.     -J      ■    •     . 


I 


2v 


«) 


4 


Jt 


^.■^'- 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TjEST  TARGET  (MT.3) 


*• 


■■? 


^ 


,* 


4 


k^0 : 


16 


\ 


u 


1^ 


U&    12.0 


ai 


w 


.  '* 


/* 


».'♦ 


aira  riTuh^THii 


_Scienoes 
CoqxKation 


■■*%■ 


/^X-v 


■«>.. 


23  WBT  MAIN  STRRT 

WntTM,N.Y.  14510 

(7Jft)t72^S03 


'^k 


>\ 


,_^ 


■*T4 


■^.-, 


CIHM 

Microfiche 

Series 

(Monographs) 


/ 


,^ 


JCMH; 

Collection  de 

microfiches 

(mondgraphies) 


,  / 


/ 


l^»^      ■  <«■' 


a. 

0 


^ 


Canadian  Instituta  f  t^^^iaf  orical^icroraproducti&ns  /  Inatitut  Canadian  da  microraproductiona  hiatoriquaa 


■>■ 


y 


y 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notas  /  Notat  tachniquas  at  bibliographiquai 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  bast  original 
(wpy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this  copy  «»hich 
may  be  bibliographically  unique,  which  may  altar  any 
of  the  images  in  the  reproduction,  or  which  may 
significantly  change  the  usual  method  of  filming,  are 
checked  below. 


□  Coloured  coveVs/ 
Couvertura  da  couleur 

□  Covers  damagad/ 
Couvarture  endommagte 

□  Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couvarture  restaurte  at/ou  palliculte 

□  Cover  title  inissing/ 
Le  titre  da  couvertura  manqiia 


j     n  Coloured  maps/   ^ 

n 


Cartes  gte^aphiquw  aft  couleur  ~ 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  Mua  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  qua  Maue  ou  noire) 


<r      \ 


^  r^ 


□  Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/  ^ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


g 
n 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relii  avec  d'autres  document 

Tight  binding  may  caus»ihadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serrte  peut  causer  de  I'ombra  ou  de  la 
distorsion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restpration  may  appear 
within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these  have 
been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  qua  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouttes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissant  dans  le  texta, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  «tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont  ' 
pas  kxh  filmtes. 


□  Additional  comments:/ 
Commentairas  supplimentaires: 

This  item  is  filmed  et  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  f  ilm«  eu  taux  de  reduction  mA\^ak^0^in. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  la  maitleur  exemplaira  qu'il 
lui  a  M  possible  de  sa  procurer.  Las  details  da  cat 
axamplaira  qui  sont  peut4tre  uniques  du  point  da  vue 
bibliographiqua,  qui  pauvent  modifiar  una  image 
reproduita^  OM  qui  pauvant  axiger  une  modification 

dans  la  mMioda  normala  da  f  ihnaga  sont  indiqufe 
ci-dessous. 

□  Coloured  pages/         . 
Pages  de  couleur 


□  Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  andotjimagies      . 

H  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurtes  a}/ou  pallHwItas 

0  Pages  discokMwad.  staihed  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d«colot«es,  tachetias'bu  piqules 

□  Pages  daft<%d/         / 
Pages  ditaehtes 

0ShoWthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Qualiti  in«gale  de  I'impression 

Continuous  pegination/ 
Pagination  continue 

□  Includes  index(es)/  \ 

Comprend  un  (des)  index 

Title  on  header  taken  |rom:  / 
Le  titre  de  I'en-tfte  prai^ent: 


j       j  Title  page  of  issue/ 

n 

I       I  Mesthead/ 


Page  de  titre  de  l«  livraison 

Caption  of  issue/  ' 

Titre  de  depart  de  la  livraison 


Genirique  (piriodiques)  da  lilivraison 


fl 


22X 


12X 


IfX 


26 )( 


^W 


I 
ax 


XX 


*f> 


p, 


1 


UK 


u 

32X 


Al 


.i.#J 


'^ 


.■  r. 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  beerifeproduced  thanks 


*A 


M 

4/ 


J 


2X 


'       to  the  generosity  of: 


Nationai  Library  of  Canada 


,    the  .images  appearing  here  are  t^e  best  quality 
\  possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 

bf  <he  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with^he 

f ilnflfqg  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies'laprinted  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the^frmit  coybr  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  wjth  a  prtht^  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  6over  wran^ppropriate.  All 
other  originhl  copies  are  filme^^bMinning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  Hlustr^fikMmpres- 
sion,  and  ending  on  the  last  page  withVprinted 
or  illustrated  impression.  • 


V  -^  ...  -  :■  ■■      :  ■  ■  '.^    ■   . 

The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — *i>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies.  '  ^ 

Maps;;  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those,  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  In  one  expopure-are  filmed 
beginriing  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
requii:iid.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
meth^odi 


i 

•■  3 

J-^^  ■ 


I' 


>. 


L'exemplaire  fiimA  f ut  reprodult  grAce  A  la 
g«n«rosit«  de:  j  *" 

BibiiothAque  nationale  du  Canada 


Lab  images  suivantes  ont  it«  reprodultes  avec  le    ^ 
pids  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  ta  nettet«de  I'exemplaire  film*-,  et  en 
cortformftA  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  d# 
filmiage.  \',  .  '^ 

\  '     ■  ■  .      -•  \  ' 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverjture  en 
papirif  est  imprim«e  sont  lilmte  bn  commenpant   \. 
par  le\  premier  plat  at  en  terminant  fOit  par  la   -^       '■ 
derni^re  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte \  • 
>d'f mpression  ou  d'illilbtration,  sqit  par  le  seOpnd 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  left  autreirexampjaire^ 
originaux  sont  filmito  en  commehpant  par  la       *       — 
premiire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte '. 
d'impression  ou  d'liiustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  d^nlAre  pa^e  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suhfants  apparaftra  silir  la  •" 
dernlAre  image  de  cheque  micro/iche,  selon  le  f 
cas:  Je  symbols  — ^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symBole  y  signifie  "FIN". «  . 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmfo  A  des  taux  de  rMuction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  le  document  .est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reprodult  en  un  seul  clich*,  il  est  film«  A  p^rtir  . 
de  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  h  droite, 
et  de,  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  lajnftithode. 


d. 


6 


'f:* 


'  ^  Ji 


7 


.__-  »<- 


i{ 


)  ^ 

< 

* 

:' 

a   -V 

«    4 

« 

.►V";- 

.:''^^'- 


i'l 


a; 


A. 


•)  i'v'*,; 


^  POPULAR   NOVELS. 

BY  MAY  AGNES -FlEMINGi 


/ 


l.-^-GUT  BABUSGOUirrS  wuriL 

jL^A  WONDBBFUL  WOMAN. 

8.1.i.  TKRMBLB  SBCBBT. 

4.— NOBINS'S  BEVENGB.. 

S.— A  MAT>  MAEIBIAQB. 

t.-GSR  mOBirs  ICTStKBY. 

7.-KATBl>A]!n^N. 

6.—SILB3SIT  ASjy.  TBUB. 

9.— HBIB  OF  CHABLTON. 
10.-CABBIED  BT  STOBM. 
11.— LOST  FOB  A  WOMAN, 
la.— A  WIFE'S  TB4C 
18.— A  CHANQBD : 

14.— PBIDB  AND  Pi    

16.— SHABIMa  hbb:  QmP[JVin»X 


**MTf.Fleniliig*a  atorlM  are  gnmug  mora  and  more 

popnlar  every  di^.   Tbitix  dpttpeatlonB  of  chaiacter, 

Jife-like  conTeiwtlons,  fla^jhek  of  wit,  eoo- 

atanUy  "msjm  ■oene8;«ni|  Msiflj  Intar- 

etttng  0IotB,  combine  to  place    ^ 

tibelr  anthor  In  the  ittj 

flnt  nnkof  Modem 

Novellati.** 

An  p<yt«ii«»*  miifoam  with  thia  Tofamie.  Priee,  91JB0 
e^|dli,aadBent/yMlurmaQoii.ieoeiptof  |dce*    , 

0.  W.  CABUBTON  ft  CO.,  Pabllshers, 
New  York. 


^ 


X'' 


'■  I 


•■«: 


\  .5i' 


■■~j/.': 


■^ 


.'* 


:.../ 


■*;/-■; 


..^M 


mil  '«! 


I./  .V 


■V-Ll 


/ 


•/* 


.  =«  rt   ^  Ap  t; 


i 


». 


HER    CRIME. 


C   7 


3^  JfooeL 


«. 


,^-'- 


f  ""T*, 


By 


■'.* 


MAY   AGNES   FLEMING, 


^*        -^       •  /    ,  AUTHOR  OF 

••  GUYEA&LSOOirkT'S/mFB/''  "ATERRIiA^  secret,"  "  SILENT  AND  Ttint»* 
"A   WONDttRFUL   WOMAN,"    'j^.OST    FOR   A   W0)(AN/'     •  ^ 

^  "OiW  night's  MVSTERY,"  |'  A  MAD  MARRIAGE," 
■TC.,:'" 


''  /. 


Irt 


,^      '*  A  perfect  woinan,  njbbly  planned. 

To  warn,  to/comfoiti  and  c<immand; 
And  yel  a  Spirit  stilll  and  bright. 
With  something  of  an  angel  light" 


7 


\ 


---V 


,    !■ 


i 


'%' 


i* 


■^. 


;,:    *■         NEW    YORK: 

G.  W.  Carteton  &  Co.,  Publishers. , 

;.;_^7      wwiKw:  B.^w  »  cotf*  ^ 


MDoocucxxm.    o-^     ^  V 


-  v 


5-*f  ;i^ 


i^J- . 


■■!  • 


i.-v 


rv'  \ 


V 


■'^t^m*:'- 


"■:•:-*'■•  ^'.r'-^-- -f." 


•'  ■  J 


t    V, 


fc^NTENTS. 


i''^  \ 


><f^ 


Y 


I.  Th^  Plotter^. 


%•> 


•j>.' 


il.^e  Death  of  Esther xS' 

IIIc  The  Astrologer^ i^ 

Bany  Oranmore. . .  ......*... ..,89 

y.  Mount S&nset'Hall.. ..., 37 

VI.  Lizzie's  Lover. -.......,' ^  40 

VIL  the  Cypress  Wreath. .'. 63 

VIIL  Gipsy 70  I 

IX.  A  Storm  at  Mount  Sunset  Halll 8a  1 

X.  Mis?' Hagar^ «.;.;. 01- 

!■•'..■ 

I    XL  Gipsy  Optwits  the  Squire. ...  ^ ^.....  xoi 

-I    ■  .  _ 

1 X IL  The  Tigress  and  th^e  Dove. .!..... X09 

'XIIL  Gipsy  astonishes  the  Natives. 119    * 

XIV.  The  Moonlight  Flitting.. ijd. 

XV.  The  ♦•  Star  of  the  Valley.". ..,....;.. 139 

XVL  Our  Gipsy. \. .............. ,  150 

XVIL  Gipsy's  Return  to  Sunset  Hall .\. i, » , ,  158 


1» 

>/■> 

%-' 

'  '.* 

^■"t^ 

*^v 

J 

-.  t 

>'.f. 

- 

^ 

-- 

i 

.- 

„■•'- . 

'¥ 


'V.  . 

^"'■'■';\ 

Vm- 

.-• 

^-"vf- 

■■■■•— ir — 

.      V 

It 

i 

*■■;'" 

-.: 

^    ,             * 
.-.-* 

(1              * ' 

^^^^^^^1 

IMM 

CHARn 

Xynir  Archie., 


;'■   ■)"'■....:(:: 


CONTENTS, 


A\V-    -^  , 


>.\-^i 


rAos 
.169 


f        XIX.  Gipsy's  Daring.... .............. ....... ,.,^,,^_^^^  jg, 

XX.  The  Sailor  Boy's  Doom..... ...  xn* 

XXI.  The  Spider  Weaves  his  Web 

XXII.  Fetters  for  (he  Eaglet ;. 

XXIII.  The  Bird  Caged......  -     '"^  \ 

XX|y.  May  a&4  December ; . . .'. . . ... ......  335 

XXV.  Archie's  ik>^,t  Love. . » ^ . . . . .  ....  ai6 

tXVI.  Louisi. .......... .° >^ iMA 

X^^I.  Love  at  First  Sight. .^  ,5^ 

XXl^^"  The  Old,  Old  Stoiy."... ...377 

XXIX:  The  Rivals. , ...........  387 

XXX.  Gipsy  Hunts  New  Game .\ ..... .  ag6 

XXXL  Celeste's  Trial, \^ 

XXXIL  "The  Queen  of  Song.".. 3,8 

XXXIIL  A  Startling  Discovery jjg  ' 

XXXIV.  Light  in  the  Darkii;ess T^.. 334  , 

XXXV.  The  Death-bed  Confession , 

,  XXXVL  Retribution... ..^ I....... 

XXXVII.  Another  Surprise =     -„    ' 

XXXVIIL  The  Heiress  of  Sunset  Hall ..., ,  jgi 

XXXIX.  "LastSceoeof  AH.". ^  yj^ 

,    -  ■         ■    ■       ■     ■  •  ,         -^      -  , 

■  ■■■..'  '    '\  -,~      ~''''^, 

'     '"  •    '     ^        «  "'"•      •'•     *'.  '1% 


341 


» H,     -'«&.,  a 


!•-•     /.  ■ 


A     .. 


.>    Jv 


»   1 


.f 


SHARING     HER    CRIME^ 


— ^*-»- 


CHAPTEI^  I.  .         '     , 

■'  •  "■■•   '^-    y 

THE  PLOTTERS.  < 

...^  •  ,.-  "  ''         ' 

'  'TIS  «  woman  hard  of  feature, 
Old,  and  void  of  all  good  nature. 
T^is  an  ugly,  envious  sh«w,  '■ 

■Railing  forever  at  me  dKtou."— Pon. 

^  was  Ghristmas  Eve.  A^ay  loqg  crowds  of 
gayjy  dressed  people  had  walked  the  streets, 
basking  in  the  bright  wintry  sunshine.  Sleiirh 
after  sleigh  Vent  dashing  past,  with  merrily 

>•  u.       .J™S^!"S  bells,  freighted  with  rosy  cheeks,  and- 
ne^    eyes*  and  youthful  faces,  all  aglow^rith  h^^ 

.Bu^  the  sun  must  set  on  Christmas  Eve,^s  on  all 
other  days;  and  redly,  threateningly,  angrily,  he  sank 

oZTo'"/^"  ^''  ^¥l  ^"'^'  sulle^loud!  came  rolUng  i 
ominously  over  th^heavens;  the  wind  blew  pia-cinSf 
colc^ accomp^ied  x^  a  thin,  drizzling  rain  LtS 

Gradually  the  streets  were  deserted  as  the  storm  iB^ 


_;  t,  >^'X'  '»-^^,iite..f-jw^ 


-i 

f-i^M 

'■■:'i 

U' 

_'«5-<«v 

^ 

lr.-];f? 

w  '■' 

•)r^-- 

*   ,     ■    ■ 

4. 

'■'u    ■ ' 

.^ 

t^' 

.- 

?. 

-.  \^'^' 

,/!■  .    ■ 

,-/ 

Ji"*;!. 


OC' 


VS?:.^. 


:;S^  '^^i.\- 


.^   V' 


S.\' 


8 


TUM   JPIOTTERS: 


\* 


cmscd  ia  fury  ;  but  the  Yule  logs  were  pil«sd  high,  the 
curtains  drawn,  and  every  house,  *ar^^«^,  in  the  handsome 
street  t(?  which  my  stoiy  leads  me,  was  all  aglow,  all 
ablaze  with  light.  e    »»,  «n 

;  L^  >  a  lull  of  the  storm  the  sounds  of  miisic  and  nierry^ 
making  would  rise  and  swell  on  the  air,  as  light  feet 
tripped  merrily  amid  the  mazes  q4  the  dance;  or  a  sil- 
yery  peal  of  laughter  would  break  eafily  on  the  way^ 
farers  ear.  The  reflection  6f  the  liJht  through  the 
crimson  jurtains  shed  a  warm,  rosy  glo^  over  the  Snowy 
gro^d.  brightpijiing  the  gloom  of  thatlstormy  winter^ , 

r  u^"i  rising  <Jarfc  grim,  and  gloomy  amid  those  gayly 

lighted  mansions,  stood  a  large,  quaint  building  of  dark- 

red  sandstone.    It  stood  by  itself,^pectral,  shadowy,  and 

grand.    No  ray  of  light  came  from  the  gloomy  windows 

that  seemed  to  be  hermetically  sealed.    All  around  was 

sterp,  black,  and  forbidding,       ;       ;     f         .;      v 

And  yet— yes,  from  one  solitary' window  there  <iul 

^  stream  a  long,  thin  line  of  light.    But  even  this  did  not 

look  bright  and  cheerful  like  the  rest ;  it  had  a  coldTyel- 

lowish  glare,  making  the  titter  blackness  of  the  rest  of 

the  mansion  blacker  still  by  contrast 

_  The  room  from  which  the  light  issued  was  high  atid 
lofty.    The  uncarpeted  floor  was  of  black  polish^  oak 
as  also  were,  the  wainscoting  and  mantel.     The  walls 
were  covered  with  landscape  paper,  representing  tfre   - 
hideous  Dance  of  Death,  ip  all  its  variety  of  frightful 
forms.    The  high  windows  were  hung  with  heayy  green 

&^\?t*'^''K.''^'^^''  ^"^^^-  ^»^*««  ««^^"1»«^ 
tajle^of  Wack  marble  stood  in  one  shadowy  corner,  and . 

-a^^rk,  hard  sofa,  so  long  and  black  that  it  resembled  a 
coffin,  stood  in  the  other.  I 

_    A  smoldering  sea-coal  lire,  the  only  cheerful  thingin 
that  gloomy  room,  struggled  for  lift  ip  the  wide,  yawn- 


•A 


v;: :.. 


piitmLAAm 


.•"/..W., ■■•#•«! 


o 


T^B   PLaTTERS, 


..»■■ 


ing  chiihriejr.  Now  it  would  die  away,  enveloping  the 
apartment  in  ^loom^and  anon  flame  fitfully  up,  until  the 
ghostly  shadows  on  the  wall  would  seem  like  a  train  kA 
ghastly  specters  flitting  by  in  the  darkness.  The  elm 
trees  in  front  of  the  house  trailed  their  lohg  arms  against 
the  window  with  a  sound  inexpressibly  dreary  ;  and  the  " 
driving  hail  beat  clamorously,  as  if  for  admittance.    -. 

On  either  side  of  the  fire-place  stood  two  large  easy- 
chair^  cushioned  with  deep  crimson  velve|.     In  these, 
facing  each  other,  sat  two  persons—a  man  and  a  woman 
^  -F^the  only  occupants  qf  the  room.  •         •       '    ;  ■, 

The  wpmanwas  tali,  straight,ind  stiff,  and  seemingly 
about  fifty  years  of  age.    Her  dress  was  a  rustling  black 
satin,  with  a  small  crape  handkerchief  fastened  on  lier   . 
bosom  with^  i^agnificertt  diamond  pin.    Her  hands,  still 
small  and ';l^}iite,  were  flashing  with  jewels  as  they  lay 
quietly  folded  in  her  lap.    A  widow's  cap  rested  on  her   " 
head,  which  was  alternately  streaked  with  gray  and  jet. 
But  her  face— so  stern,  so  rigid,  no  one  could  look  updn 
it  without  a  feeling  of  fear.    The  lips— so  thin  that  she 
«cemed  to  have  no  lips  at  all— were  compressed  with  a    ' 
J*'®^  <>*  Jfcw'erving  determination.     Her  forehead  was 
low  andiPFeatingp  with  thick  black  eyebrows  meeting 
across  the  long,  sharp  nose,  with  a  look  at  once  haughty 
and  sinister.     And  from  under  those  midnight  brovvs 
glittered  and  gleamed  a  pair  of  eyes  so  small,  so  sharp 
and  kfeen-^with  such  a  look  of  cold,  searching,  sUOf 
brightness— that  the  bbldest  gaze  might  well  quail  before 
them.    On  that  g^,  hard  Ikce  no  trace  of  Womanly: 
feelmgseemed  ever  to  have  lingered— all  was  stern,  harsh, 
and  freezingly  cold.    She  sat  rigridly  ereot  in  her  chair, 
with  her  needle-like  eyes  riveted  immovably  on  the  face 
of  her  companion,  who  shifted  with  evident  uneasiness 
benrath  her  uncompromising  stare. 

He  was  a  man  of  forty,  <^r  thereabouts,  so  small  of    ' 


■  ■  m 


''4 

71 


it,  ^ 


I  1   '7 


i..,'r7 


vv 


■•"«('• 


:^ ', 


r.^ 


'4 


atatiire  that,  standiiig  side  by  side,  he  could  scarcely  have 
reached  the  woman's  shoulder.  But,  notwithstanding 
his\  din^inutive  size,  his  limbs  were  disproportionately 
lar^efor  his  body,  giving  him  the  appearance  of  bein^ 
alMegs  and  arms.  His  little,- round  bullet-head  was  set 
on  a  prodigiously  thick,  bull-like  neck  ;  and  Jiis  hair> 
short,  and  , bristling  up  over  his  head,  gave  ^im  very 
much  l!he  look  of  the  sun,  as  pictured  in  the  alma- 
nacs. /,  •  .  •  ■     -^  ^   ■     ■     ,\ 


^^P 


T^is  prcposselssipg  gentlemanii  was  arr^^  in  aji1a> 
maculate  suit,,  of  blaick,  with  a  sjicitless  whUe  dicAey, 
bristling  with  starch  and  dignity,  and  a  most  ©xcruciat 

.    ing  cravat.     Half  a  dozen  rings  garrfished  His  claw-li^ 
hands,  and  a  prodigious  quantity  of  Watchrchain  dangl'^ 
from  his  vest.    The  worthv  twain  were  engaged  in  d 
andjparnejst  conversation.  /  / 

?:      ."W611,  doctor,"  said  the  lady,  itt  sl  cold,  ^ifasiired. 
tone,  that  was  evidently  habitual,  "nd  doubt  ^x>a  are 
wondering  why  I.  sent  for  you  in  such  haste  to-ni^t" 

^ « I  never  wonder,  madam,"  said  the  doctor,  in/S  p6m* 
P9as  tone— t^rhich,  considering  his  size,  was  quit^  impos- 
itig^  ^*J^o  doubt  you  have  some  excellent  r<4son  for 
sending  forihe;  wbicli,  if  necessary  for  me  to/know,  vou 
wiU  eifplaiii."  :  .'     7     *        - 

'*  You  arfe  right,  doctor,"  said  the  lady^w^ftli  a  grim 
sent  of  .smile.  '"  I  ^e  an  excellent  reas/n  for  sending 
for  you.    You  are  fond  of  money,  I  kn9^.v  - 

"  Whyi  madam,  aUhQUgh  it  is  the  rodt  of  ail^vil^^" 
•  "Tush,  mfn!  There  is  no  need  for  Satan  to  quote 
Scripture  just  now,"  she  interrupted  with  a  sneer.  "Say, 
d^ory  what  would  you  do  to  earn  five  hundred  dollars 
to-iitght?"  -  ^ 

*i  Five  hundred  dollars  ?"  said  the  .doctor,  hia  small 
prcs  sparkling,  while  a  gleam  of  satisfaction  lighted  tin 
his  withered  face,  ^ 


:■*?-■ 


w; 


.- '/ 


^■'im 


'>Vi<^" 


..  ■ft'-'  >■ 
'■  '  ■    , 


•^^ 


'■?.':.f' 


'■.>,/. 


ir//^  plotters: 


«1rei,"iial(Mhe  lady,  "and  if  tvell  done, I ia«4w%   '^ 
thcsum.    What  would  you  d0  for  such  a  pric^'      /?      5,^ 

'  "  Rather  ask  tn^  what  I  would  W  dd."     '  -  i^ 

v:    "  Well,  the  job  ^s  an  ea$y  one^    'Tis/but  to    ^^    *'  1 

SKe  paused,  and  fixed  her  eyes  on  his  face  wUriuch  ' 
a  wild  sort  of  glcani  thal^  involuntmsjly,  he  quailed  be- 
fore fier.-        ,  ^  -  ,  ^^     V,       .«  .     , 

\    "Pray  go  on^ madam.     I'm* all  attention/  he   said^ 
almost  fearing  td  break  ihe  dismal  silen<fli^  •♦Tisbut 
to-wAj/r    ..  .       ;       >  ~    .       \^ 

"takeaway  with— a  womaii  and  xhildt'C  • 

**  Murder  them'K'  said  the  doctor,  Involuntarily  recoil- 

ing._-  :;-■■.,..  ,  .       >      :  •:.,  ^»  -T'; 

•|Do  not  use  that  wprd  I"  she  said,  sharply.  "  Cow- 
ard f  do  yoM  really  bfanch  and  dr4>v  back  I  Methought 
one  of  your  profession  would  not  hesitate  t»  send  It 
pgtieut 'to  heaven."  .        ,  I 

,.    "But,  madam,'*  said  tfij  startled  dbclor^Wy^u  know  * 

the  penalty  which  the  law  awards  fpr  murdek" 

^    "Oh,  i  perceive,"  said  the  woman, .  scornfully,  "it'is 

.    not  the  crlA^  you  kre  thinking  of,  but  your  Wji  preci- 
ous neck.    Fear  not,  my  gpod  friedd  ;  thereM no  danger  • 
of  its  ever  beiirg  discovered.!*'         ,   ,  ^.    ' 

"  Bui,  my  dear  madam,"  said  the  doctor,  gllticing  uii- 

/  wsily^t  the  sterff,  bitter  fa<(e  Jbefpre  »iim,  "iThave  not 

.  the  nerve^  the  strength,  nor  the— —"        -  .    - 

''Cmtrager  she  broke  in,  passionately.    «'  dh,  craven 

— ^k,  ebicken-hearted,  miserable  graven  !    Go,  th^n^ 

le^ve  ma,  and  I  ^ill  do  it  myself;    You  dam  nit  betray 

rae^yo\x\£imid  not  without  bringing  youf  nccjc  to  the 

haltter— so  I  fear  yo\i  not;'  Qfa,  coifrar(U^Q:w^fd i  wh^ 

did  not  heaven  make  m»  a  niah?"     -'    "^ 

-  In  her  fierd*ioul1>urst  of  pawion  §he  arose  to  her  fcit, 

and  her  tall  fig|^e  looxaid  up  lik^  some  unnatunOly 

;  *«ge,  dark  shadol^  The  man  quaiM  itL  ttax  hkott  heR  - 


v.  »» - .  . 


•/y 


.  *  ji^'v 


,-■> 


♦a. 


4i 


!?■ 


Uf 


■'•\.^r^--i-^'^ 


V  * 


X^ 


'    ra^    PLOTTERS. 


> 


,  ■#-■1 

-I-  *• 

I 


1    : 


"Go  !"  she  said,  fiercely,  pointing  to  the  dorff,,,**  Yon 


w  .    ouv  sHiu,  aerce^f  pointing  to  tne  aoOf,,^"  XOB 
have  refused  to  j^flar^  my  crime.    Go  !  poor  cowkr^y  pol- 
troon !  but  remember,  Mgdge  Oranmore  never  forgiwe 
:.florforgcts!?:--v    ;,  ...r'  ^f:,:J.,^,.p.^t:,r    -. 
J' But,  my  dear  Mrs.  Oranmore,  just  listen  to  me  one 
moment,"  said  the  doctor,  alarmed  by  thi^  threat    f*  I 
have  not  refused,  I  only  objectec^    If  you  will  have  the 
goodnds  to  explain—to  tell  <me  what  I  must  do,  I  will— 
.^  see  about' it"    -'.:-.  ■':■'■;'-■,■..  -.    ■:.  '  ^iy"::   ■  .  '     -  y  '■' 

,     "Scte  about  it  1"  hastily  interrupted  the  lady.    "Ym 
can  do  it— it  is  in  your  power;  and  yes,  or  no,  must  be 
your  answer,  immediately." 
•  ■ -^  'WBut— ^"  ■'   :  ■  li-  ■-  ""^>^:i  ■^:.ii    ■ 

/*  No  buts,  sir.    I  will  not  have  them.   If  you  answer 
,  yes,  one  thousand  dollars  and.  my  future  patronage  shall  . 
be  yours.    If  you  say  no,  yonder  is  the  door ;  and  once 
you  have  crossed  the  threshold,  beware  !     Now,  Doctor 
^Wiseman,  I  await  your  reply." 

She  seated  herself  again  in  her  chair ;  and,  foldlbg 
her  hands  in  her  lap,  fixed  her  hawk-lilce  eyes  on  his 
face,  with  her  keen,  searching  gaze.  -  His  eyes  were  bent 
'  In  troubled  thought  on  the  floor.  Not  that  the  crime 
appalled  him  ;  but  if  detected— </itf/  was  the  rub.  Doc- 
tor Wisenun  was,  as  his  name  implied  a  man  of  sense^. 
with  an  exceedingly  accommodating  conscience,  that 
would  stretch  ad  libiium,  and  never  troubled  him  with 
toy  such  nonsense  as  remorse.  But  if  it  .were  discov- 
ered I  With  rather  unpleasant  ri^dness,  the  vision  of  a 
hangman  and  halter  arose  before  him,  and  he  involun- 
tarily loosened  his  cravat  Still,  one  thousand  dollars 
inrr<  tempting.  Doctor  Nicholas  Wiseman  had  ne^r 
been  so  perplexed  in  his  life. 

"Well,  doctor,  well,"  impatiently  broke  in  the  ladyi 
**bityeyou  decidcd*-yworiwy"  -.-— 


^ 


•"^-::\ 


t  * 


H 


£ 


», 


,K  ^ 


>»» 


««l^ 


"you 

ustbe 

* 

1 
\ 

V'V.  i. 


.■"  CI- 


TM£   PLOTTMJR^. 


n\ 


"  Yes,"  said  the  doctor,  driven  to  desperation  by  l^cr 
sneering  tone.'  "*  • 

"'Tis  we^**  she  replied,  with  a  mocking  snjile,  *<  I 
knew  you  were,too  sensible  a  man  to  refuse.  After.  atl> 
'tis  but  a  moment's  work,  and  all  is  over."     ™^ 

"  VVill  you  be  good  enough  to  give  me  the  explana- 
tion now,  madam?"  said  the  doctor,  almost  shuddering 
at  the  cold,  unfeeling  tone  in  which  she  spoke. 
;  ^'CertainljQyou  are  aware,  doctor,  that  when  I 
married  my  latel^usband,  Mr.  Oranmore,  he  was  a  wid- 
owei-  with  onei^on^  then  three  years  old."       "■ 

"I  am  aware  of  that  fact,  madam."       '  '.  '        ' 

"  Well,  you  also  know  that  when  this  chil4  Alfred, 
was  five  years  of  age,  my  son,  Barry,  was  born/'  . 

"Yes,  madam." 

"Perhaps  you  think  it  unnecessary  for  me  to  g^  so 
far  back,  doctor,  but  I  wish  everything  to  b4  perfectly 
understood.  Well,  these  two  boys  grew  up  together, 
were  sent  to  school  and  college  together,  and  treated  in 
every  wayalike,  outwardiyj  but,  of  course,  when  at  home, 
Barry  was  treated  best.  Alfred  Oranmore  had  all  the 
pride  x>f  his  English  forefathers,  and  scorned  to  com-, 
plain  ;  but  I  could  see,  in  his  flashing  eyes  and  ctrrling^^  - 
lips,  that  every  slight  was  noticed.  Mr.  Oranmore 
never  interfered  with  me  in  my  household  arrangements, 
nor  did  his  son  ever  complain  to  him  ;  though,  if  he  had, 
^Mr.  Oranmore  had  tda  much  good  sense  to  mention  i| 
to  me**  ^^  ■■.,,,,-:  -   ,  "  V    ■  .  ■ 

The  lady  compressed  her  lips  with  stately  dignity, 
and  the  doctor  looked  down  with  something  as  near  a 
smile  as  bis  wrinkled  tips  could  wear.  Ife  knew  very 
wcB  Mr,  Oranmore  would  not    have  interfere ;   for 

„g!!g^jggJJlJgH^|^  daiyd  to  ffall 

bis  toul  his  own.    The  lady^  however,  did  ^<rt  perceive 
^e  smile,  i^nd,  went  oil: 


-  ■*'i 


*"4 


■\ 


7W^ 


'    V 


'^:i 


If  - 


'J  ' 


r  t 


*\" 


n'\'<'' 


'<♦ 


X4 


1 1 


\>\ 


THE    JPLOTTERS. 


\ 


When  Barry  left  college,  he  expressed  a  desire  to 
travel  for  two  or  three  years  oh  the  Continent ;  and  I 
I^i?_^»^_^Yl^^"n  permission,  for  Mr.   Oranmore  was 
then  dead.     Alfred  was  studying  law,  and  I  knew  his 
dearest  wish  was  to  travel ;  but,  as*a  mattei-  bf  course^ 
It  was  out  of  the  question  for  him  to  go.,    I  told  him 
I  could  not  afford  it,  that  it  would  cost  a  great  deal  to 
pay  Barry's  expenses,  and  that  he  must  give  up  all  idea 
^of  it.    Bariy  went,  and  Alfred  staid  ;  though,  as  things 
•afterward  turned  out,  it  would  have  been  better  had  1 
allowed  him, to  go."  . 

^er  eyes  flashed,  and  her  brows  knit  with  rising  an- 
ger, as  she  contijp,ued  ; 

*^ou  know  old  Magnus  Erliston— Squire  Erlistoo. 
as  they  call  him.    You  know  also  how  very  wealthy  be 
is  reputed  to  be—owning,  besides  the  magnificent  estate 
of  Mount  Sunset,  a  goodly  portion  of  the  village  of  St 
Mark's.     Well,  Squire  Erliston  has  two  daughters,  to 
the  eldest  of  whom,  in  accordance  with  the  will  of  his 
father  (from  whom  be  received  the  property).  Mount 
Sunser  Hall  will  descend.    Before  my  husband's  death 
\  caused  him  to  will  his  whole  property  to  my  son  Barry 
leaving:  Alfred  penniless.    Barry's  fortune,  therefdre,  is 
Ijrge,  though  far  from  being  as  enormous  as  that  Esther 
Erliston  was  to  have.     Well,  the  squire  and  I  agreed 
that,  as  soon  as  Barry  returned  from  Europe  they  should 
be  married,  and  thus  unite  the  estates  of  Oranmore  and 
Erliston.    Neither  Barry  nor  Esther,  With  the  usual  ab- 
surdity  of  youth,  would  agree  to  this  arrangement ;  but 
of  course,  their  objection  mattered  little.  |l  knew  I  could 
easily  manage  Barry  by  the  power  of  my  stronger  will  • 
and  the  squire,  who  is  rough  and  blustering,  could,  with- 
out much  difficulty,  frighten  Esther  inti  compliance— 
when  all  pur  schemes-  '  *     • 


v:*-  ' 


meddler,  that  busy-body,  Alfred  Oranmoje." 


"Ill    nihil  iil|i  lii^iiiiiKiiii  ini  (iiiii  ^M 


'-  x . 


XO^    PLOTTMitS* 


:)■ 


»s 


She  paused,  and  again  HeFejres  gleamed  with  concen- 
«    trated  hatred  .and  pas$ion.  i,. 

**Be  went  to  Mount  Sunset,  and  by  some  means  met 
Esther  Erlistott.  Being  .^jjrhat  romantic  writers  Would 
call  one  of  'nature's  princes,'  !ie  easily  succeeded  in 
making  a  fool  of  her  %  they  eloped,  were  married  secret- 
,  ly^^and  Squire  Erliston  woke  up  one  mornjng  to  learn 
$bat  his  dainty  heiress  had  abandoned  pajSa  for  the  arm/ 
of  ^  beggar ^  and  Was,  as  the  wife  of  a  penniless  lawyer, 
residing  in  the  goodly  cUy  of  Washington. 

"Pretty  Esther  doubtless  imagined  that  she  had  only 
,  to  throw  herself  at  papa's  feet  and  bathe  them  with  her 
tears,^  to  be  received  with  open  arms.  But  the  young 
lady,  found  herself  slightly  mistaken.,  .Squire  Erliston 
stamped,  and  raged,  and  swore,  an^Vfrightened  every 
one  in  St.  Mark's  out  of  their  wits ;  irid""  then,  calming 
down,  ' yowed  a  vow' never  to  sector  acknqwledge  his 
^  daughter  more.  vEsther  was  then  eighteen.  If  she  lived 
towach  her  majority,  Mount  Sunset  would  be  hers  in 
spite  of  him.  But  the  squire  had  vowed,  that  before  she 
should  get  it,  he  would  burn  Sunset  Hall  to  the  ground 
and  plow  the  land  with  salt,  ^ow,  doctor,  I  heard  that, 
and  set  myself  to  work.  Squire  Eriiston  has  a  younger 
daughter;  aifd  Iknew  that,  if  Esther  died,  thaf  younger 
daughter  would  become  heiress  to  all  the  pro^rty,  and 
she  would  then  be  just  as  good  a  wife  for  Barry  as  her 
sister.  Well,  I  resolved  that  Either  should  no  longer 
stand  in  my  way,  that  she  should  never  live  to  reach  her 
majority.  Start  not,  doctor,  I  ^ee  that  you  do  not  yet 
know  Madge  Oranmore." 

She  looked  l^ke  a  very  fiend,  as  she  sdt  smiling  grimly 
-  at  him  from  her  seat.  - 

"  Fortune  favored  me."^8he  linnHnniM     ««  Alfrfd  Of^ 


."1 


\    I 


9  -N 


ftnmore,  with  two  or  three  Nether  young  men,  going  out 
one  dayf«r  assail,  was  overtakeo  by  a  sudden  squall— they 


M 


v^, 


'A\ 


*?1 


^^^T^"'  f^'^'V  -''  w  .  -  -' :  '-j^  »%-*''-  "^''S^^i!? 


'v;;kcv 


<,  . 


;  V 


*r 


*^;  ■ 


t7' 


'  ."11, 


i6 


.*.)• 


u\ 


Tff£    BLOTTERS, 


knew  little  aljout^ttianaging  a  boat,  and' all  on  board 
Ticere  drowned.    I^ead  it  in  the  papers  and  s«  out  for 
Wasbinjgton.    After  mucrdifficiiUy  J  discovered  Esther 
in  a  wretched  boarding-house ;  |pr,  after  h%»' husband's, 
death,  all  their  property  was  iaken  for- debt    She  did 
not  know  me,  and  I  hid  little  difficulty  in  persuading 
her  to  accompany  me  home.    Three  days  ago  we  arrived. 
^  I  caused  a  report  to  be  circulated  at  Washington  that  the 
wife  of  the  late  Alfred  Oranmore  had  died  in  great  pov-' 
erty  and  destitution.    The  story  found  its  way  into  the 
papers;  I  sent,one  containing  the  account  ot  her  death 
to  Squire  Erl^U ;   so  all  trouble  in  that  quarter  ia 


over. 


\- 


"  And  Esther r^aX^  the  doctor,  in  a  husky  whisper) 
"  Of  her  we  will  spfeak  by  aind  by,"  said  the  lady,  with 
a  wave  of  her  hand  ;  "  at  present  I  must  say  a  few  words 
of  my  son  Barry.  Three  weeks  ago  he  r^Etirnea  home  ; 
but  has,  from  some  inexplicable  cause,  refused  to  reside 
here.  He  boards  now  in  a  distant  quarter  of  th^city. 
Doctor^  what  says  the  world  about  this— is  there  any 
reason  given  ^''^  IV  -     ■ 

"Well,  yes,  madam," said  the  doctor, with  evident  re- 
luctance, 

"And  what  is  it,  may  I  ask  ?"        ^^^^1     ^  -     -^^     ,'    : 
"I  fear,  madam,  you  will  be  o£fended." 
"'Sdeathl  man,  go  on!"  she  brokd  in  passionately. 
"  What  sayeth  the  far-seeing,  all-wise  world  of  him  ?" 

"'Tis  said  Ije  has  brought  a  wife  with  him  from 
Europe,  whom  he  wishes  to  conceal."  * 

"Hal  ha!"  laughed  the  lady,  sdt>rnfully.  "Yes,  I 
heard  it  too— a  barefooted  bog-trotter,  /orsoo^ !  But 
tis  false,  doctor  !  false,  I  tell  you  I  You  must  contra- 
dict the  report  evcry\yhcr^>ou  hear  it    Thbl^anyGne 


^ 


should  difcro  tu  aay  that  my  son— my  pr6ud|  lildiomF 
BftrrTf=— would  marry  a  pqtato-fff||ting  Biddy  I   |0h  I  but 


.1 


V-f 


j^^FiTi 


'rf*>l 


~#-\' 


^ 


r-fffi   PLOTTERS. 


-/<- 

^   '    ** 


»7 


fdr  my  iildignatioa  I  could  laugh  at  the  utter  absur- 
dity." 

But  the  fierce  gleam  of  her  eye,  aud  the  passionate 
clenchi.Qgof  her  hand,  bespoke  her  in  anything  but  a 
laughing  humon  ;    '^-~'~-  ■  ^-  "t^t^^— --       > 

"I  would  hot  for  worlds  this  report  should  reach 
Lizzie  Erlistpn,"  she  said,  somewhat  more  calmly.  ''And 
speaking  of  her  brings  me  back  to  her  sister.  Doctor, 
Esther  Oranmore  lies  in  yonder  room." 

He  startled  slightly,  and  glan^  uneasily  in  the  di- 
rection, but  said  nothing.  /^  :',\ 

"Doctor,"  continued  Mrs.  Oranmore,  in  a  low,  stem, 
impressive  voice,  while^her  piercing  eyes  s^^ed  read-, 
ing  his  very  so^l,";^  mustneDer  live  to  set  the  sun  rue 
agaik^r'  ■  ;    ■:,,:■■.•■:  "  ■■"■  ^"■-•/,  , 

"  Madam !"  he  exclaimed,  recoiling  suddenly.  '  | 

**  You  hear  me,  doctor,  and  you  must  pbey.    She  mustt 
-tiot  live  to  see  Christmas  morning  dawn." 

*•  Would  you  have  me  murder  her  ?"  heinqtiired,  in  a 
voice  quivering  between  fear  and  horror. 
.    "  If  you  will  call  it  by  that  name,  yes,"  she  replied, 
'still  keeping  her  blazing  eyes  fixed  immovably  on  his 
face.    "  She  and  her  child  must  die." 

"Her  child  I" 

"  Yes,  come  and  see  it.  The  night  of  its  birth  must 
be  that  of  its  death."  * 

She  rose,  and  making  a  motion  for  him  to  follow  heii 
led  the  way  from  the  apartment  Opening  a  heavy  - 
oaken  door,  she  ushered  him  into  a  dim  bed-room,  fur- ' 
nished  with  a  lounge,  a  square  bedstead,  whose  dark 
drapery  gave  it  the  appearance  of  a  hearse^  and  a  small 
table  covered  with  bottles  and  glasses.  Going  to  the 
lounge,  she  pointed  t»  something  jwntpped  in  a  \»^t, 


..-  t> , » . 


1''>^\ 


^O 


'■^j3 


'>j 


met  his  ear. 


down,  and 'the  f^nt  wail  of  an  infant 


i\ 

rK  I 


2^'->«,^ws. 


m^ii^J^MsirM'^i  J':!jf  iji^ 


w 


'•vT 


V-^v 


'If 


i 


^*         >^P^  >PA<i^   PJf^   ESTff^X^ 


\ 


•^:4 


«««a^^  l^^'^  f  ^  *!  lady;  poinan^  to  the  bed ; 
^amme  these  bottles;  she  will  ask  ySu  for  a  drink 
fT  ".  ^^^^^''Ty^"  understand  !    Remember,  you  have 
pro^."    And  before  he  couldspeak,4heglWed  from 


the  rOoQ. 


^ 


\i  \ 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE,  DEATH  6p  ESTHER. 


Its  mortal  fiame  hath  violently  quitted  ? 
Across  the  moonbeam,  with  a  sudden  ffleam. 
A  ghosUy  shadow  flitted,"— Hood"  ,     , 

OR  a  moment  he  stood  still,  stunned  and  be- 
wildered.    Understand?    Yes,  he  understood ' 
her  too  well.  ■ 

He  approached  the  bed,  jwd  softly  drew 

In  -  >      Kilf  ^  *^®  ?®*'^'  ^^'^  curtains.    Lying  there. 

Whhelr^f  Ih'^*^?^^  '^^  t  y°"°«  ^'''   whose  fL  wS 

whiter  than  the  pillow  which  supported  her.    Her  loner 

SSL  [r.H "^  ^^"^  f"^"^''  °^«'  ^«^  »^°"Wers,  and 
added  to  the  wanness  qf  her  pale  face.  ^, 

She  moaned  and  turned  restlessly  on  her  pillow  and 
opened  a  pair  of  large,  wild  eyes,  and  fixe^  themTn  tSt 
unprepossessing  face  bending  over  her^  WHhlipsand  eyes^ " 
opened  with  terror,  she  lay  gazing,  unlll  he  %i6,  iJZ  ' 
irentle  a  voiqe  as  he  could  assume ; ' 

. '  Jl?""  T  ^  *^™^  ""^  °***^^  »"  *he  doctor,    ban  I  do  ^ 
anything  for  you,  child?'  ,'.  >J*"*^a 

"Yes, yej'-she replied, faintly ;-^give  me  adrink." 
He  turned  hastilT  toward  the.-  "*     -    " 


;,^^^^^^^°5ial^Sd^ 


-S^^jA 


■  i^^^^p 


'''  Bm 


■'v^^ 


^:4 


the  bed; 

>r  a  drink. 

yom  have 
ided  from 

' '    .  „■   "    ■    y- 

and  be- 
derstood' 

:ly  drew 
ig  there, 
face  was  I 
ler  loner'  I 
lers,  and  :% 

ow,  and 
I  on  the 
ind  eyes'  ^ 
d,  in  as 

»an  I  do   » ■ , 

drink." 


a  clear, 

4 


•i*'^' 


■r 


^ 


/. 


THE  MEATH  QF  ESTHER 


\:W. 


19 

colorless  liquid,  atttacteji  his  eye.  He  took  it  uk  and 
examined  it,  and  setting  his  teeth  hard  together,  pokred 
its  contents  into  a  glass.'  Then  filling  it  with  waterXhe 
approached  the  bed,  and  raising  her  head,  pressed  it  \o 
her  lips.  His  han<^  trembled  so  he  spilt  it  on  the  quflk 
The  young  girl  lifted  her  wild,  trouWed  eyes,  and  fixed\ 
them  on  his  face  with  a  ga^e  so  loig  aiid^teady  that  his  \ 
own  fell  beneath  it.  ,    '  /^^  ^,      ^ 

"Drink!"  he  said,  hoarsely,  still  pressing  it  to  her 

Without  a  word  she  obeyed,  {jdraiiling  it  to  the  last/" 
drop.    Then  laying  her  back  on  the  pillow,  he  drew  thW 
curtain  and  left  the  room.  ~  ^^ 

^x^.  Oranmore  was  sitting,  as  she  had  sat  all  th^ 
evening,  stern  and  uprighf  in  her  chair.  She  lifted  h*r 
keen  eyes  as  he  entered,  and  encountered  a  face  so  pallid 
and  ghastly  that  she  almost  started.  Doctor  Wiseman 
tottered  rather  than  walked  to  a  seat  \  ^  ^  ^ 

"  Well  r  she  said,  inquiringly.  • 

"Well,"  he  replied,  hoarsely,  "I  have  obeyed  you"* 

"That  is  well.  But  pray,  Doctor  Wiseman,  take  a 
glass  of  wine ;  you  are  positively  trembling  like  a 
whipped  fichoolboy.  Go  to  the  sideboard ;  nay,  do  not 
hesitate  \  it'\%  not  poisoned."  ,      '  A 

Her  withering  sneer  did  more  toward  reviving  him 
than  any  wine  could  have  done.  His  ex^tement  was 
gradually  cooling  doi^rn  beneath  those  calm,  steady  eyes. 
vPent  so  contemptuously  upon  him. 
^  He  drank  a  glass  of  wine,  and  resumed  his  seat 
before  the  fire,  watching  sullenly  the  dying  embers. 

"  Well,  you  have  performed  ^your  task  ?"  ']x 

"  I  have,  madam,  an4  earned  my  reward." 
"Not  quUe,  doctor;   the  infant  is  yet  to  be  dU. 
posed  of."  '        A  •  ^i==?^ 

"Must  it  die,  too?'^  ' 


•  -1  '* 


/>(  ^ 


'^m 


Vi 


€.\ 


<    ^A 


■^ 


^^1*j 


J"' J 


"■*^4 


;..;.,  .vi'SSfi 


s* 


Xi 

^>.^ 


■A 


•^f 


V 


:^'- 


^> 


?.,' 


t  «o.        /      7:£«f    DEATH    OF   MSTjarEH, 

*"'''•*  '  .   -   .  .       .- 

*'Yesr  but  not  here.    You  must  remove  it,  in  any 

way  you  please,  but  death  is  the  safest,  the  surest.** 

'      "And  ^hy  not  here  ?"  .v» 

*^Bec^use  I  do  not  wish  it,"  she  answered,  hanghtiljr- 

nhat  is  enough  for  you,  sirrah  I    You  must  take  the 

child  away  to-night** 

H-«Whtt  shall  I  do  with  jtp'.    -^  -^  7^^  — -^--^ 

"Dolt  I  blockhead!  have  you  no  brains?'*  she  said, 
passionately.  "Are  you  aware  ten  minutes*  walk  wHl 
bring  you  to  the  sea-side  ?  Do  you  know  the  waves  r©. 
ftjse  nothing,  and  tell  no  tales  ?  Never  hesitate,  man ' 
4Y0U  have  gone  too  far  to  draw  back.  Think  of  the  re- 
ward; one  thWsand  dollars  for  ten  minutes'  jvorki 
Tush,  doctor  I  I  protest,  you're  trpmbling  like  a  nervous 

,  ^  "Is  it  not  enough^to  make  one  tremble?"  retorted 
the  doctor,  roused  jtO  something  like  passion  by  her 
deriding  tone;  "t^o  murders  intone  night—is  that 
nothing>f'*  .      ':'■'■'/:  \-'r .      '•    '  -k-    -^y  -  ^     -- 

"  Pshaw-!  no^al  sickly  girl  and  a  puling  child  more 
or  less  m  the  world  is  no  great  loss.  Hark !"  she  added, 
nsing  suddenly,  as  a  wild,  piercing  shriek  of  more  than 
mortal  agony  broke  from  the  room  whe«j  Esther  lav 
"Did  you  hear  that  ?'*    „  .;^  ■  ' 

.    Hear  it !    The  man's  face  was  horribly  ghastly  ^d^ 
livid,  as  shriek  after  shriek,  wild,  piercing,  and  shrill 
with  anguish,  burst  upon  his  ear.    Great  drops  of.  per- 
spiration stood  on  his  browj»his  teeth   cha^ered   as  ' 
^hough  by  an  ague  fit,  aildhe  trembled  so  perceptibly 
Ihat  he  was  forced  to  |:rasp  the  chair  for  support. 
n  1  Not  so  the  womatl.    She  kbod  calm,  listening  with 
jpei^ect  composur<»to4beagonizing  crie$,  that  were  grow- 
ing fainter  and  fainter  each  moment. 

"It  is  well  none  of  the  servants  are  in  this  en^  of  the 
"*"* "  she  said  -  --»       -        •         -      -      • 


iS^—i?. 


hj^use,' 


qiii^tly ;  "or  those Jend  scrBamrwoutd- 


i-^ 


nr-sa. 


t7 


«■  \     " .  /•'~-  ^    r. ' 


rff£   DEATH   OF   MSTJfMJt, 


4/V 


-be  overheard,  nAd  might  give  rise  to  disagreeable  re- 
marks/' ^  "       .     -^ 

Receiving  no  answer  from  her  companion,  she  turned 
r'to  him,  and  seeing  the  look  of  horror  on  his  ghastly- 
face,  her  lip    curled  with  involuntary    scorn.     It  was 
^  Strang^  she  could  stand  there  so  unmoved^  knowing  her- 
'  self  to  be  a  murderess,  with  thjp.dying  cries  of  her  victim 
still  ringing  in  her  ears.  ;        '  _ 

They  ceased  at  last — died  away  in  a  low,  despairing 
'  moan,  and  then  all  grew  still.    The  deep,  solemn  silence 
was  more  appalling  than  her  shrieks  had  been^  for  they" 
well  knew  they  were  stilled  forever  in  death. 

"  All  is  over  1"  said  Mrs.  Oranmore,  drawing  a  deep 
breath.-  :^ 

"  Yes,"  was  the  answer,  ill  a  voice  so  hoarse  and  UQ- 
natural,  that  it  seemed  to  issue  from  the  jaws  of  death.' 

Again  she  looked  at  him,  and  again  th^  mocking 
smile  curled  her  litt  v 

"Ji^tor,"  she  Wd,  quietly,' '^ou  are  a  greater 
coward  than  I  ever  took  you  to  be.  I  am  going  in  now 
to  see  herr-you  had  better  follow  me,  if  you  &re  not 
afraid.'*  '  .     -■  >'"-■' -"'-\  '^f  1 

How  sardonic  was  the  smile  which  accompanied  these 
words.  Stunned,  terrified  as  he^was,  it  stung  him,  and 
he  started  after  her  from  the  room.. 

They  entered   the  chan^ber  of   the  invalid.     Mrs. 
Oranmore  walked  to  the  bed,  drew  back  the  curtains,  and 
disclosed  a  frightful  spectsfele.  ■    ' 

_^^  Half  sitting,  half  lying,  ^  a  strange,  distorted  attitude  , 
she  had  thrown  herself  into  iiM^r  dying  agony,  her  lips 
swollen  and  purple,  her  .dyes  pr^^Uding,  her  hair  torn 
fiercely  out  by  the  roots,  as  she  J^  clutched  it  In  her 
fierce  anguish,  was  Esther. 


* 

y 

• 

^ 

.  i^ 

>  s 

^■^^ 

♦- 

■  ^' 

v/^*mH| 

^  i^^m 

f  ♦'jar 

"'W 

-'¥ 

•  -  yi 

* 


/■•A 


«l-..i'.»i^* 


r  \ 


f  < 


f  , 


-  rj" 


9* 


I' 


il 


TffM   DEATff    OF   ESTHER. 


W'.' 


the  once  beautiful  face  was  now  swollen  and  hideous,  ai 
she  lay  stark  dead  iff  that  lonely  room. 

'  ..  Moment  after  moment  passed  away,  while  the  mur- 
derers stood  silently  gazing  on  their  victim.  The  deep 
silence'of  midnight  was  around--nothingwas  heard  save 
the  occasional  drifting  of  the  snow  against  the  windows,  s 
^  A  stern,  grave  smile  hoVered  on  the  lips  of  lilrs. 
Oranmore,  as  she  gazed  on  the  convulsed  face  of  th^ 
dead  girl.  Drawing  the  quilg  at  last  over  her,  she  turned 
away,  saying,  mockingly :  •  T 

"  Where  now,  Esther  Oranmore,  Is  the  beauty  of  which 
yoti  were  so  proud  ?    This  stark  form  an'd  ghastly  face 
is  now  all  that  r^ains  of  the  beauty  and  heiress  of  Squire'  • 
Erliston.    Such  shall  be  the  fate,  sooner  or  later^  of  all 
who  dare  to  thwart  me."      -  .   •    V      ■■^^^^--.-■■-i---,.-r--':.^--^--. 
Her6yes  flamed  upon  the  shrinking  man  beside  her,/ 
with  an  expression  that  made  him  qukke.    A  grim  smile 
of  self-satisfied  power  broke  over  h«r  dark  face  as  she 
observed  it,  and  her  voice  had  a  steely  tone  of  command, 

'as  she  said  : .-.  "'--*  ■:  ,   ;    ■•  ■.    'in  -,        '-■'■:'■  :-.-■;<  '■ 

"Now  for  the  child.    It  must  b^imme^iately  disposed 

"  And  shef\  said  the  doctor,  pointing  to  the  bed.     .  ^ 

"  I  shall  attend  to  that." 

"If  you  like,  madam,  I  will  save  you  the  trouble."  \ 

"  No,  sir,"- she  replied,  sharply;  •»  though  in  life  my 
enemy,  her  remains  shall  never  be  given  up  to  the  disr 
secting-knife."  I  have;  not  forgotten  she  is  agentletn^^s 
daagUter,^d  as  such  she  shall  be  interred.  Now  you 
may  ga  Wrap  the  child  in  thisj  va^c^-retum  witJioui 

"  you  shall  be  obeyed^  "g2a»n»"  sa»d  Doctor  Wi4e- 
tnan,  catching  the  infecti6Br3|nker  reckless  spirit  He 
stooped  and  raised  the  infant,  who  .was  still  in  a  deep 
s^oep.  ,    ■      ,..■■■  •       ■    -  /  ■ ;    .    ■ 


.«** 


S' 


<  1     •> 


'*.. '-'..' 


■^'. 


•  !■'  ,  .,       ■.•  ■  ■■>■    ^      A 


TJIE   DEATH    OF   ESTffMR^ 


r#/ 


Muffling  \t  carefutty  in  the  shawl,  he  followed  the 
lady  from  the  room,  and  cautiously  quitted  the  house. 

The  Storm  had  novf  passed  away  ;  the  piercing  wind 
had  diedo^t,  and  the  midnight  moon  sailed  in  unclouded 
majesty  tl^rough  the  deej)  blue  sky,  studded  with  myriadai 
of  burning  stars.  '  * 

The  C5>ol  night  atr  restored  him  copipk^^^ 
self. 

Holding  the  still  sleeping  infant  closer  in  his  arms,  he 
hurried  on,  untjl  he  stood  on  the  sloping  bank  command- 
inga  view  of  the  bay. 

The  tide  was  rising.  The  waves  came  splashing  in  on 
the  beach— the  white  foam  gleaming  coldly  brilliant  in 
the  moonlight. .  The  waters  beyond  looked  cold,  and 
sluggish,  and  dark— moaning  in  a  strange,  dreary  way 
as  they  swept  over  the  rocks. .  How  could  he  commit  the 
slumbering  infant  to  those  merciless  waves  ?  Depraved 
and  guilty  as  he  was,  he  hesitated.  It  lay  so  confidingly 
in  his  arms,  slumbering  so  sweetly,  that  his  heart  smote 
him.    Yet  it  ipust  be  done. 

He  defended  carefully  to  the  beach,  and  laying  his 
living  bundle  on  the  showy  sands,  stood  like  Hagal'  a 
distance  |off,  to  see  it  di^  T 

^°  ^®T  4*^  ^^^  minutes,  he  knew,  the  waves'^would 
have  waspecl  it  far  away. 

As  he  stc  od,  with  set  teeth  and  folded  arms,  the  merry' 
jingle  of  iipproaching  sleigh-bells  broke  upon  his  startled . 
ear.    Th^y  were  evidently  approaching  the  place  whet^ 
he  stood     Moved  by  a  sudden  impulse  of  terror,  he 
turned  and  i  ted  from  the  spot. 

.     Guilt  is  over  cowardly.    He  sped  oh,  scarcely  know- 
ing whitherlie  went,  until  in  his  blind  hasfi^he  ran  a«ainst  ■ 
awatchn^an.  ' 

The  unejipected  shock  seint  bothr  rolling  over  in  the 
■no^,  wMoa  ypsidrniMy  rfiihlfd  the  feycr  ia  JPoot^r 


5 


"  I 


J^*Si 


/>  I 


V  - 


=*^ 

% 


->.   „'/ 


1 

■?^ 

wm 

*  1 

*3     -. 

•' 

-Av,, 

'  s* 

• ' 

1 

1 .  V 


«4  ■^''■1-'Hh:^^^    ^"^^ 

' '' ' '  ■   '  '  i-^''.  ■ 

Wisemab'f  Mood.    The  indignant  "  guardtan  of  oightr 
with  an  exclamation  which  wouldn't  look  well  in  print, ' 
laid'hold  of  the  doctor's  collar.-    But  there  was  vigor  iM^^fl 
Doctor  Wiseman's  dwarfed  body,  and  strcnglbinliis  iopii^lr'iiii  -J 
lean  arms;    and   with   a  violent  effbrt    he  wrej 
himself,  free  from  th6  policeman VtenaqwJS 

/  "  Charley"  started  in  pursuit,  and  ^eeloipir  woul^ 
soon  be  overtaken,  the  doctor  suddenly  darted  into 
'the  high,  ^rk  portico  of  an  impQs|ng-looking  House, 
and  soon  had  tHe  satisfaction  of  beholding  the  angry 
watchman  teai;  past  like  a  comet,  in  full  pursuits 


«• 


11.  . 


'-GHAi*TER  in.    ; 

'     THE- ASTROLOGER.        li    jj        ' 

"  He  fed  on  poisons,  and  thqr  had  no  power,.  . ; 

Biit  Were  a  kind  of  nutriment ;  he  lived 
■    Through  that  which  had  been  death  to  many  nieft 
.  To  him  the  book  of  night  w^  opened  wide,      ' 

And  voices  from  the  deep  uyss  revmled        • 
~    Anugrv41andasecret."-«BY»o».  ' 


^ 


'I  .- 


-..-;-^* 


■f' 


..-» 


lat  al 


'as 


lAWlNG  assured 

past)  Doctor  WMHf^Wabout  to  start  from 

the  building,  when  a  sudden  moonbeam  fell 

on  thb  polished  door-plate,  and  he  sUrted  back . 

to  sfeierthe  name  i<i^ revealed. , 

f*The  astrologfer;  Ali  Hamed  !"  he  exclumed.   *'Now 

w^it  foul  fiend  has  driven  me.  to  hi^^cursed  den  to- 

*-^»>   'Tis  said. he  cjin  read  the  future;  and  surely  no. 

^^rer  ucodad  td  know  it  aaore  than  I.    Can  it  hftfjitt 


,-X4.^&.^l|»^.'! 


c  f 


•?» 


SfROLpGER. 


•5V 


($ 


the  hand  of  destiny  has  driven  me  here^  to  show  me  wiutt 
is  yet  to  come.  ^Well,  it  is  useless  going  hpme  or  at-  • 
tempting  to  sleep  to-night ;  so,  Ali  Handed,  J  shall  try 
what  your  magical  black  art  can  do  for  me.]I  \ 

He  rang  the  bell  sharply^  but  moment  after  inoment 
p^ssc^d,  aqd  ao  one  canje..    Losing  all  patience,  he  again  > 
rang  a^  i^afening  peal,  which  echoed  a^    re-echo^ 
through  tlu!  house.       '%'       -i^-  .; 

Presently  the  sound  of  footsteps  clattering^own  staim 
struck  his  ear,  knd  in  a  moment  more  the  door  was  cau- 
tiously opened,  and  a  dark,  swartjiy  face  pjotruded 
through  the  opehing.  Seeing  but  one,  he  stood  aside  to  , 
allow 'him  to  ejiter,  and  then  securely  locked  ani^  bolted 
thedoor.^';  -'■■.;.-•■-.;    ■  "  ■  •-•i;    '■''^  .;-.C:'.  '.;. 

'^The  astrologer,  AH  Hamed,  resides^ere  ?"  safd  the 
doctor: 

Accustomed  to  visitors  at  all  hour^.  a<  the  ;day  and 
jQight,  the  man  betrayed  no  surprise  aA  the  unreasonable 
time  he  had  taken  to  inquire,  but  answered  quietly  in  the 
aflBrmative.  .  -     /,  ^■^'^^ 

"Can  I  see  him?" 

"I  thinly  so;  step  in  here,  one  toomen^i^'^d  I  wil 

SCv •  ,  .  * "      ' 

.  He  ushered  Dr.  Wiseman  veAx^  a  small  Jisid  plainly 
furnished-  parlor,  ^hile  he  i^in  went  up  aipirs..  In  a 
few  moments  he  reappeared,  and,  bidding  his  wi^or  fol- 
low him,  led  the  way  up  the  long  staircase  through  a  . 
spacious  suite  of  apartments,  and  finally  iitto  a  long, 
dm-k  room,  where  the  astrologer  usually  reooived  VUi* 
tors.,  .-■'/■  -  ■■'■'"  '-Z'"'-  :  :-.■     ,.^  ■    -.r  '  •A^     "-' 

The  doctor  glanced  around  with  intense  cviriosifyi 
sot  unminglied  with  awe.  The.  floor  was  paintodT  black,  \ 
and  the  walls  were  hung  witl^  dark  tapesiry,  *boY- 
.ercd  withf  nil  manner,  of  cabalistic  figures.  Skulls^ 
crucibles,  magic  mirrori^,  tf^ipe  aerpegts,  vipera.  ftnd  all 
■    i      ..    ■  ■'    ■• "  -■"  "■  '.'■  ■■;  ■''''  .    .'■    .■    , 


■f 


-  % 


\  '   >»; 


:Xi 


•«, 


■'.  V 


), 


^   I 


V 


i?; 


It 


TMJg  ':ASTROiLOGER, 


.'< 


v^ 


mafiner   of  hideous  things  were   sc&tterad   profiiselr 

While  the  doctor  still  stood  contemplating  the, strange 
things  around  him,  the  door  opened  and  the  astrologer 
himself  entered.  .  He  was  an  imposing-looking  person- 
age, tall  and  majestic,  with  grave,  Asiatic  features,  andv 
aiT^yedwith  Eastern  magnificence.r  He  bent  his  head 
"tJ^  grave  dignity  in  return  to  the  doctor's  profound 
DO\t>^nd  stood  for  a  few  moments  silently  r^^ardinir 
him.    ^>>.  - "  ,  * 

"You'w^dknowthefulture?V«aid  the  astrologer, 
at  length,  in  his  slow,  impressive  voiced 

"Such  is  my  business  here lo*taight.'V„  .^..-^^     * 
*•  You  wpuld  );tave  your  horoscope  cast,  probably?"-'  ■ 

"Then  give  me  the  day  and  hour  of  your  birth,  «ifld  v 
return  to-morrow  morning."   ."  .  ' - 

"No,.l  cannot  wait  until  then ;  i  nmst  know^  to- 
iiight.'V-,,^  ■■..;  '..:./ ''•^;;:--::-,:.v.  c]..:  .-x.  ■'-,---;■■,-,■[.■  ^^'- 

The  astrologer  bowA^,  and  after  many  tedious  pre- 
liminaries, directed  the  doctor  to  quit  the  room  until  h^  ^ 
(Should  send  for  him.  Dr.  Wiseman  then  entered  one  of  ^^ 
the  Jong  suite  of  apartments  through  which  he  had! 
passed,  apd  seated  himself  in  a  state  of  feverish  anxiety 
to  hear  the  result.  Some  time  elapsed  ere  the  swarthy 
individual^who  had  admitted  him  presented  himself  at 
the  door  afid  announced  that  the  astrologer  was  ready  to 
receive  him.  \  - 

.    Dr.  Wiseman  found- AH  Hamed  standing  beside  a 
'smoking  caldron,  with  his  crossjbones,  and  lizards,  and 
mybtic  figures  around  him,  awaiting  his  entrance. 

Not  much  given  to  credulity,  the  doctor  determined 
to  test  his  skill  before  placing  implicit  belief  in  his  prc- 
dictions  ^  and  therefore,  bluntly  announcing  his  skyptj- 
ctsm, lie^emai^ed  to  know  something  of  the  past 


1  \ 


The  doctor  bowed  asseqt. 

..  I.'w°°il*^ '"  .'"""■"P""  "»  doctor;  turtW  as  Dale 

*^  «»  r?    J^  ""**"""*'■' «o"  for  me  ?" 

A  life  of  disgrace,  and  death  <m  thtuaffMr 

y**brtns  your  head  to  the  halter''  J '^s  mi4  wUl 

^J^;P^_^^  Wiseman  stood  stii,  roo^pd  to  the 

°l.ild  Dull,  mat  night  he  was  to  ^^i  ■    w  **  •"'1°"*''  * 


■'-.  -  ,    . 


-.^f\ 


^1 


•f\ 


"  «1 


'U       • 


28 


2iff£    ASTROLOGER. 


far  away  by  the  waves  long  ere  this.  Whose,  theii« 
,  could  it  be  ?  There  were  more^hildren  born  this  Christ- 
inas Eve  than  that  one  ;  but  how  could  any  otie  ever 
know  what  he  had  done  ?  No  one  knew  of  it  but  Mrs. 
Oranpiore ;  and  he  well  kn'ew  she  would  never  tell. 

Wt  plunged  blindly  onward  through  the  heaps  of 
drifted  snow,  heeding  not,  caring  not,  whither  his  ^tep^ 
wended.  Once  or  twice  he  niet  a  watchman  going  his 
rounds,  and  he  shrank  away  like  the  guilty  thing  that  he 
was,  dreading  lest  the  word  ^'■murder"  should  be  stamped 
on  his  brow.  Bethought  witfi  cowardly  ternpr  of  the 
coming  day,  when  every  eye,  he  fancied,^ '^Bild  turn 
upon  him  with  a  loo^-of^suspicion.  -> '^V' 

/  Invpluntaji^y^lie  wandered  to  the  1|ife|l-iinor^  and 
$too(i  on  toe  bank  where  he  had,  been  one  hour  before. 
The  waves  were  dashing  now  almost  to  his  feet ;  no 
trace  of  any  living  thing  was  to  be  seen  aground. 

"It  has  perished,  then  !"  he  exclaimed,  w:ith  &  feeling 
of  intense  relief.  "I  knew  it!  I  knew  it !  //,  then,  & 
■not  the  child  which  is  to  cause  my  death.  But,  pshaw  t' 
why  do  I  cred|t  all  that  soi-disant  prophet  told  me  !  Yet 
he  spoke  so  tl^uly  of  the  past,.  I  cannot  avoid  believing 
him.  Perish  on  the  sca£fold  !  Heavens  !  if  I  felt  sure 
ot  it,  I  would  go  mad.  Ha !  what  is  that?  Can  it  be 
the  ghastly  white  face  of  a  child  ?"  -  -t 

..  He  leaned  over  and  bent  down  to  see,  but  nothing 
met  his  eye  save  the  white  caps  of  the  waves. 
/  "  Pool  that  I  am  !"  he  exclaimed,  turning  away  im- 
patiently. "  Well  might  stony  Madam  Oranmore  deem 
me  a  coward  did  she  see  me  now.  I  will  hasten  bi)^k  to 
her,  and  report  the  success  of  my  mission." 

He  turqed  away,  and. strode  in  the  direction  of  her 
house  as  fast  as  he, could  walk^'over  the  frozen  ground, 
quite  unconscious  of  what  was  at  that  same  moment 
jgassjng  in.  anorhor  qiiar^r..ftf  thft  Hfy  on  rhwf  nrfrnft 


■f 


ventful  night.; 


.  \\ 


■'s-\-\ 


.•*-->*t-l;.* 


Jf^^ny  onANJifbjiE, 


99 


CHAPTER  IV. 

•      ■    •  \'    "        '■■      ■■  ■' 

»  BARRY    ORAKMORiE.  v f—- 

— -"Pray  for  the  dead- 
Why  for  the  dead,  who  are  at  rest?  ' 

Fray  for  the  living,  in  whose  breast 

The  struggle  between  right  and  wrpo« 

Is  raging,  terrible  and  strong."— ^Spbixow. 

T  was  a  luxuriously  furnished  apartment    A 
thick,  soft  carpet,  where  blue  violpts  peeped 
from  glowing  green  leaves  so  nkturally  that 
one  involuntarily  stooped  to  cull  them,  cover- 
wall  ^nAfl^f       '  ^/'^  ""^"^  palntingsadorned  the 
wall,  and  the  cornices  were  fretted  with  gold.    The  heaw 

crimson  curtains  shut  out  the  sound  of  The  wintn,  wTnT 
and  a  glowing  coal  fire  shed  a  living,  radiant  glow  ovtt 
everything  around.     Theair  was  redolent  of  intpxL^rne 
perfume,  breathing  of  summer  and  sunshine     On  th! 
marble-topped  center-table  stood  bottles  and  glasses,  a 
cigar-case,  a  smoking-cap,  and  a  pair  of  eleganl  s'wer 
mounted  pistols.    It  was  evidently  a  gentleman's  ro^m 
judging  by  the  disorder.     A  biutiful  TrWe  pTom 
stood  m  one  corner,  armyed  in  a  gaudy  dressing-gow^ 
and  opposite  stood  a  dainty  little  Pen^  adorned  wUh  a 
beaver  hat.    Jupiter  himself  was  there,  with  a  violi^  sus 
pended  gracefully  around  his  neck,  ank  Cupid  ^s°4n 
mg  against  the  wall,  heels  uppermost    with  bTS  1^ 

Among  the  many  exquisite  paintings  hanging  ^n  the 


t»f  ahcep  gnBErBg- orTfBe^ 


All 

41 


"  S'l'^ '  I 


/m- 


«»aty  herbage  a  lowering,  troubled  dcfSo^e"  «d 


one 


■a 


A 


. « -  r 


J(. 


^ 


i 


h  ■ 


'-\ 


\ 


,.-■• 


1^  <  *,  "^ 


^# 


,k 


30 


JBARRy    ORANMORE, 


could  almost  see  the  fitful  gusts  of  wind  sighing  ovlbr 
the  gray  hiil^tops.  Standing  erect  was  a  young  girl-i-ta 
mere  child  in  years — her  longr  golden  hair  streaming 
wildly  in  the  breeze,  her  straw  hat  swinging  in  her  hand, 
""her  fair,  bright  face  apd  large  blue  eyes  raised  with 
mingled  shyness  and  sauciness  to  a  horseman  bending 
over  her,  as  if  speaking.  His  fiery  steed  seemed  pawing 
with  impatience ;  but  his  rider  held  him  with  a  firm 
hand.  He  was  a  tall,  slight  youth,  with  raven  black  hair 
and  i^yes,  and  a  dark,' handsome  face.  There  was  a  wild 
look  about  the  dark  horseman  and  darker  steed,  remijid- 
ing  one  of^the  Black  Horseman  of  the  Hartz  Mountains. 
Underneath  was  written,  in  a  dashing  masculine  haid, 
"  The  first  meeting."  There  was  something  strikingly, 
^vidly  life^likc'in  the  whole  scene ;  even  the  characters-- 
the  slender  girl,  with  her  pretty,  piquant  face,  and  the 
handsome,  graceful  rider—were  more  like  living  beings 
than  creations  of  fancy."  ', 

An4->yes,  standing  by  the  fire,  his  arm  resting  on 
the  mantel,  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  bearth,  stood  the  orig- 
inal of  the  picture.  The  same  tell,  superb  form ;. the 
same  cle^r  olive  complexion  ;  the\same  curling  locks 'of .. 
jet,  and  bladk  eyes  of  fire  ;  the  same  firm,  proud  mouth, 
shaded  by  a  thick  black  mustache — there  he  stood,  his 
cyea  riveted  on  the  glowing  coals,  his  brow  knit  as 
though  in  deep  and  painful  thought.  Now  and  then  the 
knuscles  of  his  face  would  twitch,  and  his  white  hands 
involuntarily  clench  at  some  passing  thought.    ' 

At  intervals  the  noise  of  doors  shutting  and  opening 
would  reach  his  ear,  and  he  would  start  as  though  he 
had  received  a  galvanic  shock,  and  listen  for  a  moment 
intently.  Nothing  could^'be  heard  but  the  crackling  of 
tne  fire  at  such  times,  and  again  he  would  relapse  into 
gloqmy  musing.  ,  w   ' 

« What  a  fool  I  have^n  I"  h^  iMthMi^,  «»  \^^ 


^  • 


"^  >-. 


V  ^AJijRy    OJStANMORB. 

l^twcen  his  clcn<:h^  teeth,  as  he  shook  back  with  fierce 

ISrr '  D^*'!!^^!!^!;"*'^  '*  '^  ^"»-^«°  ^y^-^^  with  this 

S^  I  ilV^'^'M'  '^' '°  ^"''w  myself  to  be  be- 
IniS'h  ^        ^'"'  T^  ^"^  yellow  hair !   What  dem^ 
pould  have  possessed  me  to  make  her  my  wife?    My 
Wlte.^  Just  fancy  me  presenting  that  little  blushin/ ' 
shrinking  Galway  girl  as  my  wife  to  my  lady  mothef 
V.  hJ       ?'".!"^l'f  °^  coquettes.  Lizzie  Erliston  !  I  wish 
tol^v^ir  I  had  W6wn  my  brains  out  instead  of  puttii^ 
my  head  into  sucha  confounded  noose-making  ™yseU 
the  laughing-stock  of  all  my  gallant  friends  and  laar 
accgumtances!    No,  by  heaven  !  t^ey  shall  ivever  ij^j 

frie„d7  Th       "^M?- .  ^^"*""°  ^^^"  ^«  ^«°'  back  to  her 
^J^'^^'  ^^in.be  glad  enough  to  get- he# on  anv 

erms;  and  she  will  soon  forget  ml,  and  i  hKenZ 

^hfil  h-    ^t   ^'  suddenly,  paissthg  before  the  piciure, 

Iw      ^^^T  *^^'  ^""^  V'^  «^««^t«r  light,  and  hS 
yoice  assum^la  gentler  tone ;  "  she  loves  me  so  well  yi 

^ar  more  than  I  do  her.  .  I  hardly  Kke  the  thought^S 
sending  her  away ;  but  it  cannot  be  helped  My 
mother  s  purse  is  running  low,  I  fear ;  Erliston^s  coffers 
must  replenish  it.  Yes,  there  is  no  help  for  it  EvS 
."h^^ffK*"^'  ""^'  many  little  Lizz'e.  Po;>r  ch^^^ 
Jhe  left  home,  and  friends,  and  all  for  me  ;  and  it  ^^ 
^m  a  villainous  act  in  me  to  desert  her  for  anot^ 
Butjo  she^must ;  there  is  no  alternative  "  ■   ™V 

He  was  walking  up  and  down  in  his  intense  excite- 

Tn^lr^'^TJ^''  P""^^"«  *"^^«°^y  ^o'  *  few  moment' 
and  then  walking  on  faster  than  before.    Thus  Jlf  an 

hour  passed,  during  which  he  seemed  to  have  formed 

f  h!  1^!  »     "L*"^  *'*'"'  *^  ^«  o°ce  more  leaned  against 
1^-!^.*°?  ^"^°^^^°"ff*^^  »?q  against 

PrBscnuy  ttie  door  opened  and  a  woman  eateVed.  She 


'V  ■M 


M 


\y. 


j^ 


if 


"J.    -■1.  ^■'^" 


/"    V 


3a 


V    •         .  •■-       ' 

BARHY    ORANMORE. 


•'>  t 


,,  waa a  Stout,  corpulent  person,  with  coarse,  bloated  face, 
and  small,  bleared  eyes.  As  she  entered,  she  bas^  an 
affectionate  glance  toward  the  brandy  bottle  on  the  table 
--a  glance  which  said  plainly  she  would  have  no  objec- 
tion to;  trying  its  quality.  She  was  arrayed  for  the 
street,  With  a  large  cloak  enyelopipg  her  ample  person, 
and  a  warm  quilted  hood  tied  over  her  substantial 
doubly  chinr--"^ 

jj**  Well,  sii^  I'll  be  movin^  I  reckon/'  said  the  woman, 
adjusting  her  cloak.  "Tho  young  lady's  doing  very 
nicely,  and  fhe  baby's  sleeping  like  an  angel.  So  they'll 
get  along  very  well  to-night  without  me."  ^ 

The  young  man  started  at  the  sound  of  her  voice, 
and,  looking  up,  said  carelessly  : 

*•  Oh,  it's  y^u,  is  it  ?    Are  you  for  leaving  ?"  "*  ' 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  it's  time  I  was  hpme  and  to  bed.     I  ain't 

used  to  bein'  up  late  nights  now— don't  agree  with  my 

constitution  ;  it's  sorter  delicate.    Shouldn't  wonder  if 

I  was  fallin' into  a  decline." 

The  quizzical  dai-k  eyes  of  the  young  man  surveyed 
the  rotund  person  before  hin^,  and  in  spite  of  himself  he 
burst  out  laughing.  ^^  i  , 

■  "Well,  now,  if  Jou  was  in  a  decline  yom-self,  you'd 
laugh  t'other  side  of  your  mouth,  I  reckon,"  said  the  of- 
fended matron.  "  S'pose  you  think  it's  very  funny  laugh- 
ing  at  a  pooi-,  lone  'oman,  without  chick  nor  child.    But 

lean  tell  you "  - 

**  Ten  thousand  pardons,  madam,  for  my  oflfense,"*he 
interrupted,  courteously,  though  there  was  still  a  wicked 
twinkle  in  his  eye.  "  Pray  sit  down  for  a  moment ;  I 
have  something  to  say  to  you."  \ 

^  «  Well,  now,  it  don't  seem  exactly Vight^  to  sit  here 
with  you  at  this  hour  of'thenight.  Howsomever,  I  will, 
to  oblige  you,"  and  the  worthy  dame  placed  her  ample 
irame  in  a  cushioned  elbow-chair. 


."-t    • 


BARRY    O RAN  MORE, 


-took  too  much  cai.»h»  T  "^     ?      .  ^*"' °°«  day  he 
,    set  onto  him,  and-Z"  ^'"'  <=°™5«^  "^  ">e  jury 

chiwS:^"''""  ^r«"»'Jpani<»i«*    Youhaveno 

young ^.an,  speaking  qS  thouX^J  *""" '"  "^^ 
restless  anxiety  in  his  fine^es      *'''        *  ""  "  '°°'  °^ 

she'sl^^ptdtil^ckrer  °''*?'°'''  "— "  ""d  here 
the  sentence       '^        '  «P««,veiy,  by  way  of  finishi.^ 

"  Money  shall  be  no  obiprr .  K..'.  .  ■ 

•ust  think  it  is  your  own-^;^"' """""*'••  "•*'»'°ri<i 
•bout  it  more."    -^    own-/ am  never  to  ^  troubled 


her 


"All  right— I  understand  •'  sairf  >h. 
heads^cly.    '•  SW  ir'l  ,h    r    ■'  "''"*'  "odding 
"It  is.  ^  Can  you  tik^ll       '  '""*  °"' '» •''ere  ?"  * 
"To-night?"  '"^^""""^ 

■    ."Yes."        ;    .;'      .    ■      :..  ;    ,■■       :     ...    ■      ■;■■■■■■'  '■-.',^».' 

tin  t.^;'./"-;^"  '°o  «»"1  »■><•  storm,;  B«,er  wai^' 
«..d  1  am  nere,  to  he.^  of  jT  ^  *'  "■""  ^  "■°ov«d , 


.jfV: 


'I 

»  /f 

i '  I 

n 


1. 1 

V 


;. 


,ji 


BARRY    OR*ANMORE, 


34       :V  ■.: 

".  And  t6e  ppor  young  lady  ?  Seems  sorter  hard,  now 
ion't  it?"  she'll  take  on  won4erfully,  I'm  feared." 

A  spasm  of  pain  passed  over  his  hJijgdsome  face,  arid 
for  a  moment  he  was  silent,    "then,  looking  up,  he  said,^ 
with  brief  sternness :  ^  .^ 

"It  cannot  be  helped.  You  must  go  without  dis- 
turbing her,  and  I  will  break  the  news  to  her  myself. 
Here  is  my  purse. for  the  present.  What  is  your  ad- 
dress?"    ■       . «  ■    ■  ;■"  ,   .  -J  ■        !'■ 

The  woman  gave  it. 

"  Very  well,  you  shall  hear  from  me  regularly ;  but 
shoqld  we  ever  meet  again,  in  the  street  or  elsewhere,  you 
are  not  to  know  me,  and  you  must  forget  all  that  ^  has 
transpired  to-ni^t." 

"Hum  !"  said  the  fat  wid^,  doubtfully. 

"And  now  you  had  better  depart.  The  storm  has  al- 
most ceased,  and  the  night  is  passing  away.  Is  Ev— is 
iny  wife  awake?"  *       ^       , 

"No;  I  left  her  sleeping." 

«  So  much  the  better.'  You  can  take  //  with  you  with- 
out disturbing  her.  Go." 

The  buxom  widow  arose  and  quitted  the  room. '  Orin- ' 
more  lay  on  a  lounge,  rigidly  rtotionless,  his  face  hidden 
by  his  hand.    A  fierce  storm  was  raging  in  his  breast—^ 
"the  stniggle  between  right  and  wrong."    Pride  and^ 
aml^itidn  struggled  with  love  and  remors^,  but  the  fear 
of  the  world  conquered  :  and  when  the  did  woman  re,- 
entered,  bearing  a  sleeping  infant  in  heraitms,he  looked 
up  as  composedly  as  herself. 

"Pretty  little  dear,"  said  the  widow,  ^rapping  the 
thild  in  a  thick  woolen  shawl,  "how  niceljjr  she  sleeps  !' 
Very  image  of  her  mother,  and  she's  thd  beautifulest 
girl  I  ever  saw  in  my  life.  I  gave  her  sonie  paregoric 
to  make  her  sleep  till  I  go  home.    Well,  gobd-night,  wc^ 


Our  business  is  oveiv 


/  ■ 


v^V 


,%><•■ '     ,. 


JM' 


BARRY    ORANMORB, 


I 
3S 


f*ir«8»   good-night     Remember  the    secret ;   forget 
what  has  traospired  to-night,  and  your  fortune  is  made. 
You  will  care  for  iV "—and  he  pointed  tothen^hild — "as! 
though  it  were  your  own." 

V  "  Be  sure  I  will,  dear  little  duck.  Who  could  help 
liking  such  a «weet,  pretty  darling?  I  s'pose  you'll  come 
to  see  it  sometimes,  sir  ?" 

'*  No^  You  can  send  me  word  of  its  welfare  now  and 
theii.  r  <jc$V  niadam,  go."  >        4 

The  widow  turned  to  leave  the  room,  and^  unobserved 
by  the  young  man,  whp  had  once  more  thrown  himself 
on  his  face  on  the  sofa,  she  seized  a  well-filled  brandy- 
flask  and  concealed  it  beneath,  her  shawl.  ^  ^^ 

QuittlngM;j^&  house,  she  walked  as  rapidly  as  her 
bulksome  prpi^ortions  would  permit  over '  the  )4nowy 
ground./  The  road  leading  tp  her  home  lay  an  the  dir^- 
tion  of  the  se^-^hore ;  and^as  she  reached  the  beach,  sW 
was  thoroughly  chilled  by  the  cold,  in  spite  of  her  warm 
wrappings.  -,       >  V  l 

"It's  as  cold  as  the  Arctic  Ocean,  and  I've  heerd  say 
that's  the  Coldest  country  in  the  world.  A  drop  of  com- 
fort won't  come  amiss  just  now.  X^ucky  I  thought  on'l. 
This  little  monkey's  as  sound  as  a  top.  It's  my  'pinion 
that  young  gent's  no  better  than  he  ought  to  be,  to  treat 
such  a  lovely  young  lady  in  this  fashion.  Well,  it's  no 
business  of  mine,  so's  I'm  well  paid.  Lor  I  I  hop^  I 
hain't  gin  it  too  much  paregoric ;  wouldn't  for  anyth/ng 
'twould  die.  S'pose  I'd  get  no  more  tin  then.  Tl 
prime,"  she  added,  placing  the  flask  to  her  Jips  and  d) 
ing  a  long  draught. 

As  the  powerful  fumes  of  the  brandy  arose  yCo 
head,  the  worthy  lady's  senses  became  rather  confused  ; 
and,  falling  rather  than  sitting  on  the  bank,  the  child, 
muflEIed  like  a  mummy  in  its  plaid,  rolled  from  her  arms 
into  aL  snow-wreath.  At  the  same  moment  the  loud  ri^f^ 


•  ^1 


,V!^P 


•A'-. 


\i,\ 
M 


\% 


\-. 


/*•■- 


I  ^ 


If'""' 


*   IJ 


1-.. 


—,     ^ 


■n  -» 


V' 


36  .;l)r 


—       ♦■ 


BARRY    OR  AN  MORE. 


ing  of  bells  and  the  cry  6L.^*^Fire !  fire  !"*  fell'  upon  Uer 
car.  It  roused  her  ;  and,  in^the  exciteoient  91  the  mo(* 
ment  forgetting  her  little  charge,  she  sprang  -iip  as  well 
ais  she  could,  and,  by  a  strange  fascination,  was  soon  in- 
i  voluntarily  drawn  away  to  mijngle  with  the  crowd,  who 
were  hiirrying  in  the  direction  of  her  %bode. 
)  Scarcely  five  minutes  before.  Dr.  Wiseman  had  quittedS 
that  very  spot:  and  there,  within  a  |ew  yards  of  each 
other,  the  two  unconscious  infants,  ^y,  little  knowing 
how  singularly  their  future  lives  vyeri||o  be  united— little 
dreaming  how  fatal  an  influence  <7M^^^hem  was  yet  to 
wield  ovdr  ^/m.  ■     -   ^ 

Some  time  after,  lyhen  the  flames  were  extinguished 
and  the  jcro^d' had  quitted  the  streets  for  their  tieds— 
when  tM  unBroken  silence  of  coming  morning  had  fallen 
over  UiejcHty — ^the  widow,  returned  to  seek  for  her  child.  . 

But  sjhe'sought  in  vaip^  the  rising  tide  had  swept 
over  the!  bank,  and  .waa°  j|||ain  retreating  sullenly  to  the 
sea.     '.  ^'-    ^  ♦  ^       ■    '"-"■'   _■  .  ^Z       ■. " 

Sobered  by  terror  and  remorsej  the  wretched  woman 
trod  up  and  down  the  dreary,  desertipd"^  snowy  beach 
until  morning  broke;  but  she  sought  and  searchfsd  in 
vain.    The  child  was  gone. 


i     ( 


I*' 


;-^-: 


\    \>r 


~^ils. 


-  \. 


^''V  4- 


MOUNT    SUN SBT^ HALL, 


\- 


CHAPTER  V. 


39! 


MOUNT    SUNSET    HLKULi, 


,  "A  jolly  place,  'twas  said,  in  days  of  old/'-^WoRDSwoKTH. 

HE   jingle  of   the   approaching   sleigh-bells, 
which  had  frightened  Dr.  Wisetiian  from  the 
beach,  had  been  unheard   by  the  drunken 
nurse  ;  but  ten  minutes  after  she  had  left,  a 
\  sleigh  came  slowly  along  the  narrow,  slippery 

'■p  ■  ""■  ■  ■  ■       path.  .  . 

It  contained  but  two:  persons*  One  was  an  elderly 
wom^n,  wrapped  and  muffled  in  fura  A  round,  rpsy, 
chccry.€ace  beamed  out^from  a  black  velvet  bonnet,  and* 
twb  smWl,  twinkling,  merry  gray  eye?,  lit  up  the  pleas- 
antest  countenance  in  the  world. 

Her  companion,  who  sat  in  the  driver's  seat,  watf  a 
tall,  jolly-looking  4arkey,  with  a  pair  of  huge,  rolling 
e^es,  looking  like  a  couple  of  snow-drifts  in  a  black 
groundvf  A  towering  fur  cap  ornamented  the  place 
where  the  "  wool  ought  to  grow,"  and  was  the  only  por- 
tion of  this  son  of  darkness  which^could  be"  discovered 
foi*  his  voluminous  wrappings. 

The  path  was  wet,  slippery,  and  dangerous  iq  the  ex- 
treme.  The  horses  were  restive,  and  a  single  false  steo 
would  have  overturned  them  into  the  water.  * 

"  Missus  Scour,  if  you  please,  missus,  'you'd  better 

fLZ:  «!k-  ^  *  ?^?-'  '^^°*"S^ '°  the  horses,  in  evident 

^u      '    .  ul^  yer»s  the  wussest  road  I'se  ever  trabeled. - 

These  wishious  brutes  11  spill  me  and  you,  and  the 

s^igh,  and  then  the  Lor  only  knows  what'Il  ever  h^n»,. 


m 


•? 

-:;^ 
;i!** 


'^m 


RJ*4^  -^ 


-•\^ 


'   1    *     '■ 


'.fE' 


':f-:-> 


*■  ■'■  "    .... 


V 


30- 


.\  .'"NT 


TTf 


Mpa/^   StrNSET  HALL. 


"Do  yoit  think  there's  any  dahj^er,  Jupiter?"  [^id 
Mrs.  Gower  (for  such  was  the  name  her  sable  attendant 
had  transfbrmed  into  Scour\  in  a  voice  of  alarm.  • 
M<  *'Thjs '  road's  sort  o*  'spicious  anyhow/'  replied 
Jupil^;  "  V^  'vise  you,  MiSsus  Scour,  mum,  to  get  out 
and  w'iCik  till  we  is  past  this^yei-  beach.  'Sides  the  snow, 
this  yer  funpelly  beach  is, full  a'  holes,  an'  if  we  got 
upsot  inter  One  pf  ,'em,  ole  marse  tnight  whistle  foif  you 
and  me,  and  the  sleigh  arter  that !". 

With  much  difficulty,  and  with  aiiy. amount  of  whoa^ 
ing,  Jupiter  managed  to  stop  the  sleigh,  and  assisted 
stQut  Mrs.  GOwer  to  jettight.  This  was  no  easy  job^  for 
that  worthy  lady  wasf rather  unwieldy,  and  panted  like 
a  stranded  porj^oise,  as  she  slowly  plunged  through  the  ' 
wet\snow-drif  ts. ,  • 

Suddenly,  abov^^  the  jingling  sleigh.-bells,  the  wail  of 
an  infant  met  her  ^.  S|ie  paused  in  amazement,  aad 
looked  around.  Again  she  hciard  it— this  time  seeming- 
ly at  her  feet.  She  looked  down  and  beheld  4  small, 
dark  bundle,  lying  amid  the  deep  snow. 

Onde  more  the  piteous  cry  met  her  ear,  and  stooping 
down,  she  raised  the  litttle  dark  object  in  her  arms. 

Unfolding  the  shawl,  she  beheld  the  infant  whose  ^ 
cries  had  first  arrested  l^r  ear.      ' 

"^ood  ^heavens  !  a  baby  exposed  to  this  weather^ 
left  here  to  perish  !"  exclaimed  good  Mrs.  Gow^,  in  li'or*  . 
ror.    "Poor  little  thing,  it's  half  frozen.    Who  could 
have  done  so  unnatural  a  deed  p" 

'  "  Laws !  Missus  Scour,  what  ye  got  dar?"  inquired 
Jupiter,- 

"  A  baby,  Jupe  !    A  poor  little  helpless  infant  whom 
some  unnatural  wretch  has  lef^  here  to  die  !"  exclaimed 
Mrs.  Gower,  with  more  indignation  than  she  had  ever  ]: 
before  felt  in  h«r  life.         i 


Ai 


■^^^. 


)  . 


\ 


¥: 


"  Oood  Lor  1  so  'tis  1    What  you  gwine  to  do  wid  it 
Missus  Scour,  hium  ?"     •  >  ^ 

"Do  with  it?"  Said  Mrs.,  Goifrei^ Jookibg  at  him  in 

[surprise.      « Why^  take  it   with  md.  of   course.      You 

wouldn't  ha^e  me  leave  the  poor  infant  liere  to  perislt 

Iwould  you  ?**';..   :'."•' .'^^ /.:.;:  -.•  ■■    .■  v^;-;-.:/;-  ^.-"-  "  -■  ■  .■^'^■-;  «^-?^ 

"'Deed,  Missus  Scour,  I  wouldn't  bring  it  'long  ef  I 
as  you.    Jes'  'fleet  how  tarin'  mad  olc  marse  '11  he 'bout'/ 
,J)on't  never  WaAt  rd  see  no  babies  roun'.     Deed  ' 
POney,  you'd  better  take  my  'vice  An'  leare  it  whari^ 
vas,"  said  Jupiter.   .  ■    ■#' "   ■  •'' :-'''^'--\'- ^        'T-^ 

"What?    Leave  it  hereto  die.    I'm  ashamed  of  you. 
lupiter,"  said  the  old  lady,  reimjcingly.  ^ 

**  But  Lor  !  Miskis  SpQui»  i  ol^^ma/se  '11  trow  it  out 
winder  fust  thing.\  Shouldn't  )b6;^'prised,  nudder,  ef 
N  wollop  me  for  bringirfg  it.,/J«s'  'fledt  upon  it. 
rissus  Scour,  nobody  can't  put  no  'pendence  ontohim. 
B  lorsooken  ole  sinner.    Trowed  his  'fernal  pie  stick  at 
le^t'othenlay,  and  like  to  knock  my  brains  out,  jes'  for 
Mhin  ^x  all.     'Deed,  hone^,  I  wouldn't  tiy  Sich  a  'sper- 
fiment,  no  how."  *^        , 

"^iv,  Jupiter,  you  needn't  say  another  word.     My'  . 
iinds  made  up,  and  I'm  going  to  keep  this  child,  1^ 'ole 
larse  rage  as  he  will.    I'm  iust  as  sure  as  I  can  be,  that 
Je  Lord  sent  it  to  me,  to-night,  as  a  Christmas  gi^t,  in 
Wace  of  my  poor,  dear  Aurora,  that  he  toorto  h^Ven."  . 
iaid  good  Mrs.  Gower,  folding  the  wailing  infant  dlOs^r 
till  to  herwarm,  motherly  bosom. 

"Sartin,  missus,  in  course  you  knows  best,  butef 
/ou  d  only  'fleet  'Pears  to  me,,  ole  marse  '11  tar  roun 
worser  dan  ever,  when  he  sees  it,  and  discharge  y6u  in 
you  sponsible  ol?%jo' life 'count  of  it"  " 

:^^  '-   ^%  u"  di^ge  me,  Jupiter,  after  twenty 
yea^^^vic<^  rhave  enou^  to  support  myself  and  this     ' 
lirrlft  nnftXo^ho  tod  oiLiwy  life,  lUank  the  Lord  I"  M 


I- 


■J 


^1 


'-4t 


:/ 


f   ,   ^ 


0*t 


40 


Jlf^ 


SUNSET    HALL. 


Mrs.  Gower,  her  honest,. ruddy  face  all  aglow  with^eii- 
erous  enthusiasm.    ,  "^^r-^-^i^ 

'♦.Well,  I  s'pose  'taint^no  sorter  use  talking,"  said 
Jupiter,  witK  a  sigh,  as  he  gathered  up  the  reins  ;  "  but 
ef  anyfhilig  happens,  jes  'member  I  'vised  you  of  it  'fore- 
hand. Here  we  is  on  de  road  now,,^§iQt,.X9"'*^  ^better  gefc, 
in  ef  you's  agoin'  to  taJie  4e  Itllfe  'un  wid  "Jrou-" 

With  considerable  squeezing,.and  much  panting,  and 
some  groaningf,  good  Mrs;  Gower  was  assisted  into  the 
sleigh,  and  muffled  up  m  the  buffalo  robes. 

Wrapping  the  <aiild  in  her  warm,  fur^l^ned  mantle,  to 
protect  it  from  tfee  chill  night  air,  they  sped  merrily 
along  over  thd  hard,  frozen  ground.     . 

Christmas  morning  dawned  bright,  sunshiny,  and 
warm.  The  occupants  of  the  sleigh  had  long  since  left 
the  city  behind  them,  and  were  now  driving  along  the 
more  open  country.  The  keen^frosty  air  deepened  the 
rosy  glow  on  Mrs.  Oower's  good-humored  face.  Warm- 
ly protected  from  the  cold,  the  baby  lay  sleeping  sweetly 
in  her  arms,  and  even  Jupiter's  sable  face  relaxed  into  a 
grin  as  he  whistled  *♦  Coal  Black  Rose."     J 

The  sun  was  about  three  hours  high  when  they  drew 
up  before  a  solitary  inn.    And  here  Jupiter  assisted  Mrs.  j 
Gdwer  intp  the  house,  while  he  himself  looked  after  his 

<i.hf>rses.        -   -  '         ■  ■■-  '. " 

Mrs.  Gower  was  shown  by  the  hostess  into  the  par- 
lor, where  aj  huge  wood-fire  roared  up  the  wide  chim- 
ney. Removing  the  large  shawl  that  enveloped  it,  Mrs. 
Gower  turned  foi»  tte  first  time  to  examine  her  prize. 

It  did  not  differ  much  from  other  babies,  save  in  be- 
ing the  tiniest  little  creature  that  ever  wafr  seen  ;  With 
small,  pretty  features,  and  an  ungual  profusion  of 
brown  hair.     As  it  awoke,  it  disclosed  a  pair  of  large 


"BIiie^yesT^rathei-  vatattt-looKlng,  it  must  becuufessed- 
anil  immediately  set  up  a  most  vigorous  equealing.  Smalt 


Ir  'v 


■>    ...'. 


,-*",*« 


MOUNT  SUNSET   HALL. 


,.  i' 


f 


as  it  was,  it  evidently  pos^ssed  lungs  tliat  would  not 
have  disgraced  a  newsboy,  and  seemed-  bent  upon  fully 
exercising  thefn  ;  for  in  spite  of  Mrs.  Gower's  Cooing 
and  kissing,  it  cried  and  screamed  "and  would  not  be 
comforted.'*      V  „.^ 

**  Poor  little  dear,  it's  so  hungry,"  said  th'e  good  ol'd 
lady,  rocking  it  gently.     "What  a  pretty  little  darlifig 
lit  i&    Vmsure  it  looks  like  little  Aurora  !'' 

"What    is   the    matter   with    baby  ?"  inquired  the 
>stessi  at  this  moment  enterihg. 
"  It's  hungry,  poor  thing.    Bring  in  some  warm  milk, 
llease,"  replied  Mrs.  Gower.   ^.. 

The  milk  was  brought,  and  baby,  like  a  sensible 

phild,  as  it  doubtless  was,  did  ample  justice  to  it.     Th^n 

>lling  it  up  in  the  shawl,  Mrs.  Gower  placed  it  in  the 

:king-chair,  and  left  it  ^o  its  own  rejections,  while  she 

It  down  to  a  comfortable  bteakfast  of  fragrant  coffee, 

lot  rolls,  and  fried  ham.  ' 

When  breakfast  was  over  Jupiter- brought  round,  tlie 
lorses  and  sleigh,  and  Mrs.  Gower  entered,  holding  her 
[prize,  and  they  drove  off.  -  , 

It  was  noon,  when  they  reached  the  end  of  their  long 
Ijourney,  and  entered  the  little  village  of  St  Mark's. 
Sloping  upwd^d  from  the  bay  on  one  side,  and  encircled 
by  a  dense  primeval  forest  on  the  other,  the  village 
stood.  St.  Mark's  was  a  great  place  in  the  eyes  of  its 
inhabitants,  and  considered  by  them  th&  only  spot  on  the 
globe  fit  for  rational  beings  to  live  in.  It  was  rather  an 
unpretending-looking  place,  though,  to  strangers,  who 
sometimes  came  ffora  the  city  to  spend  the  hot  sammer 
months  there,  ih  preference  to  any  fashionable  watering- 
place.  It  contained  a  church,  a  school-house,  a  lecture- 
room,  a  post-office,  and  an  inn. 


But  the  principal  building,  and  piide  uf  the  vHlj^^ 
wui  Mount  Sunset  Hall.    It  stood  upon  a  sloping  emit 


rf 


• 

.i 

r 

,^ 

-vi 

%4' 

'  &'f 

? 

s 

' 

.^ 

■3 

1  >    7f  ■ 


'■'f : 


:-ii' 


^v 


^4" 


i: 


49 


MOUNT    SUNSET   HALL. 


\\ 


nence,  fhich  the  villagers  dignified  with  the  title  of  hill, ' 
but  which  in  reality  was  no  such  thing.     The  hall  itself 
was  a  large;  quaint,  old  mansion  of  gray  stone,  built  in 
the  Elizabethan  style,  with  high  turrets,  peaked  gables, 
and  long,  high  windows.    It  was  finely  situated,  com- 
manding on  one  side  a  view  of  the  entire  village  and  the 
My,  and  on  the  other  the  dark  pine  forest  and  far-spread- 
ing hills  beyond.     A  carriage-path  wound  up  toward 
the  front,  through  an  avenue  of  magnificent  horse  chest- 
nuts, now  bare  and  leafless.    A  wide  porch,  on  which 
the  sun  seemed  always  shining,  led  into  a  long,  high  hall,  ~ 
flanked  on  each  side  by  doors,  opening  into  the  separate 
apartments.'  iA> wide  staircase  of  dark  polished  oak  led 
to  the  upper  chambers  of  the  old  mansion. 

"*ic  owner  of  Sunset  Hall  was  Squire  Erliston,  the  \ 
one  great  man  of  the  village,  the  supreme  autocrat  qf  St 
Mark's.     The  squire  was  a  rough,  gruflf,  choleric  old 
bear,  before  whom  children  and  poultry  a^  other  infe- 
rior animals  quaked  in  terror.     He  had  been  once  given 
to  high  living  and  riotous  excesses,  and  Sunset  Hatl  had 
then  been  a  place  of  drunkenness  and  debauchery.    But 
these  excssses  at  last  brought  on  a  dangerous  disease, 
and  for  a  long  time  his  life  was  despaired  of ;  then  the 
squire  awoke  to  a  sense  of  his  situation,  took  a  "pious 
streak  "—as  he  called  it  himself— and  registered  a  vow, 
that  if  it  pleased  Providence  not  to  deprive  the  world  in 
gf9neral,  and  St.  Marks  in  particular,  of  so  valuable  an 
ornament  as  himself,  he  would  eschew  all  his  evil  deeds 
and  meditate  seriously  on  his  latter  end.    Whether  his 
prayer  was  heard  or  not  I  cannot  undertake  to  say  ;  but 
certain  it  is  the  squire  recovered  ;  and,  casting  over  in 
his  mind  the  ways  and  means  by  which  he  could  best  do 
penance  for  his  past  sins,  he  resolved  to  go  through  a 
cuuise  of  Suloinon's  Proverbs,  awd^-i^^crmarricarDeem^ 


L.i.  '-i'  Mh',\^&;-Asl4 


-^- 


MOUNT    SUNSEI^.  BAl£ 


^^cd  ;  and,  after  the  honeymoon  was  past,  ^rpn's^ 
i  his  wife  one  day  by  taking  down  the  huge  family  Biblte 
left  him  by  his  father,  and -reading  the  first  fehapteJ; 
This  he  continued  for  a  week— vawning  fearfully  all  the 
time;  but  after  that  he  resolved  to  make  his  wife  rid 
them  aloud  to  him,  and  thereby  save  him  the  troubleT 
j;     "For,"  said  the  squire  sagely,  "what's  the  use  of  hav- 
[ing  a  wife  if  she  can't  make  herself  useful.    'A  j^od 
Iwifc's  a  crown  to  her  husband,' as  Solom^  says."  T 
I      So  Mrs.  Erliston  was  commanded  each  morning  to 
read  one  of  the  chapters  by  way  of  morning  prayera 
The  squire  would  stretch  himself  on  a  lounge,  light  a 
Pi^,  lay  his  head  on  her  lap,  and  preparefo  listen.  But.^ 
|efore  the  conclusion  of  the  third  verse  Squire  Erliston 
i«ld  his  goo^resolutions  would  be  as  sound  as  one  of  the 
even  Sleepers. 

Whan  his  meek  little  wife  would  hint  at  this,  her 

rorthyhege  lord  would  fly  into  a  passion,  and  indig- 

«ntly  deny  the  assertion.    iKr  asleep,  indeed  1    Prepot 

Icrous  !-he  had  heard  every  word  !    And,  in  proof  of 

It,  he  vociferated  every  text  he  could  remember,  *nd  inw 

Th!^i."£u".,"**u*^^  Solomon  the  author  of  them  alL 

This  habit  he  had  retained  through  life-often  to  the 

rreat  amusement  of  his  friends-setting  the  most  absurd 

fohrases  down  to  the  charge  of    the  Wise    Monarch 

»Ii8  wife  died,  leaving  him  with  two  daughters  •  the 

Up  the  carriage.road,  in  front,  the  sleigh  contalnine 
I  our  travelers  drove.    Good  Mrs.  Gower-who  for  man? 
years  had  been  Squire  Erliston's  housekeeper-^HAt^ 


FtlS^ 


bwiS^Ml'T'*^  '?,*"  elbow-chair  to  recover   her 
breath,  Mni.  Gower  laid  thebabyin  herb^vi^  «ng 


8  room.' 
recover   her 


!1 


vVil 


*,«^.*  . 

■.^.j 

. 

■r'A 


■  m 


'  1 


T5£ 


•l^s.iijejiwJ 


k'-i   ',^ 


J  .> . 


i*.,!^. 


L»^s. 


'.J  '' 


b'-t- 


MOUNT    SUNSET^2£AL£^ 


the  bell;    The  sjdmmons  was  ananirefed  by  a  tidy  littlb 
darkey,  who  rushed  in  all  of  a  flutter. 

_,  "Laws!  Missus  Scour,  IV ''stonished,  I  is  !     Whaf's 
de  yb'ung  'un  !    Jupesay  you  fotch  oiie  from  the  city.** 
-.^   "So  I  did  ;  there  it  is  on  the  b^."    *  ^ 

"  Sakes  alive,  aio't  it  a  mite  of  a  critfef  f 


what'll  old  marse  say  ?    Can't  ^abide  babies  nd 


ihij 


^^ 


^» 


p- 


'spect  he  nebei*  was  a  baby  hisself  V 

:  "Totty,  you  mustn't  speak  that  way  of  your  mastenf 
Remember,  it's  not  respectful,"  said  Mrs.  Gower,  re- 
bukingly.  "  / 

"  Oh,  1*11  'member  of  it — 'specially  when  I's  iiear  him, 
and  he's  got^  p  stick  in  his  hand,"  said  Totty,  turning 
a;gain  to  the  baby,  and  eying  it  as  one  might  some  natu- 
ral curiosity.  "  Gdipd  Lor  !  ain't  it  a  funny  little  critter  ? 
What's  its  name.  Miss  Scour?" 

"I  intend  calling  it  Aurora,'  after  my  poor  little 
daughter,"  replied  Mrs.  Gower,  teajrs  .filling  her  eyes. 

^*  Roarer!  Laws ! /ain't  it  fundrfr?  Heigh  1  dar's  de 
bell.    'Sp^ct  it's  for  me,"  said  totty,  tunning  oflf. 

In  Asfew  moments  she  reappeared  ;  and,  shoving  her 
curly  head  and  ebony  phiz  through  the  door,  announced, 
in  pompous  tones,  "  d&t  marse  wanted  de  honor  ob 'a 
few' moments'  private  s|^ification  wid  Missus  Scour  in 
de  parlor." 

"  Very  well,  Totty ;  stay  in  here  an4.mtfid  the  l>aby 
until  I  copae,back,''(%aid.Mrs.  Gower,  rising  to  obey. 

Totty,  nothing  loth,  seated  herself  bjf  the  bed  and<  re- 
sumed the  scrutiny  of  the  baby.  Whether  that  young 
lady  remarked  the  impertinent  stare  of  the  darkey  or  not,- 
it  would  be  hard  to  say;  for,  having  bent  her  whole 
heart  and  soul  on  the  desperate  and  rather  cannibal-like 
task  of  devouring  her  own  little  fists,  she  treated  Totty 
with  fiiknt  contempt. 


t..f\  -Jt-aRA'':*' 


r  masters 


MOUNT  1svn;^et  hall,:^        4^ 

minatiod/bur  with  a, heart  which,  it  musit  be^wn^d, 
throbbed  faster  than  usual,  approached  the  rdom  wherein 
sat  the  lord  and%asj;er  of  Sunset  Hall.  A  gfuflf  voice 
shouted  :  « Come  in  !"  in  reply  to  her  "tapping  at  the 
chambpr-door ;"  and  good  Mrs.  Gower,  in  fear  and 
trembling;  entered  the  awful  presence. 

In  a  large  easy-chair  in  the  middle  of  the  floor— his 
feet   supported  by  a    high    ottoman— reclined    Squire 
[Erliston.    He  was  evidently  about  fifty  years^  of  age 
below  the  middle  size,  stout  and  ^uarely  ^uilt,  and  o^ 
ponderous    proportions.       His  xiountenance    was    fat 
[purple,  and  bloated,  as  if  from  high  living  and  strong 
Wrink-  and  his  short,  thick,  bulMike  neck  could  not  fail 
lo  bring  before  th^  mind  of  the  beholder  most  unpleas- 
ant  Ideas  of  apoplexy.    His  little,  round,  popping  eyes 
leeched  m  danger  of  starting  /roin  their  sockets  ;^while 
Ihe  firm  compression  of  his  ^qufare  mouth  betokened  an 
unusual  degree  of  obstinacy.  V  '' 

^    "  Good-morning,  Mrs.  Gower.    Fine  day,  this  I   Gbt 
iome,  I  see:    Shut  the  door  I-shut  the  door  .'-draughts 
|alway^s  bring  on  the  gout ;  so  beware  of  'em.   Don't  run 
into  danger,  or  you'll  perish  in  it,  as  Solomon   iays. 
f  ihere !  sit  down,  sit  dowq,  sit  down  I"    . " 

Repeating  this  request  a  very  uK^necessary  numbci-  of   - 
times-for  worthy  Mrs.  Gower  had  immediately  taken  a 
seat  on  entering--Squire  ErJiston  adjusted  his  spectacles 

Th/^'h  "^  °  V'  ^^^'^^  °'  ""''  "^^«'  ^^^  glanced'^vere^ 
at  his  housekeeper  over  the  top  of  them.  That  good  |ady 

f^Un    ^^' ,*^^.«\fi*«d  "Pon  the  carpet-her  hirds 

m  nla'n      '^^  '"^'  ^^^^^  ^^^y  Personification  o? 
mingled  dignity  and  good-nature.      ;  '^y     '       . 

'  "  Hem  !  madam,"  began  the  squire.  ' 
"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  Mrs.  Gower,  meekly. 
"  Jjipc  telU,me  .that  ie^  hy  told  mi^l  me^n,  ma'im"^ 


•V. 


>  ■» 

•J 

't  jI 


>      I 


*'^n** 


\  -^  *"■' 


•W», 


Wl 


'"if 

<'4\ 


TJfl 


■■\' 


f 


3.*, J.*' 


t  4- 


«s    ' 


:'V' 


)  ; 


•It/,' 


<^ 


MOUNT   SUNSET   HALL. 


the  8h()it  anid  Iongt>f.it  ifc,  you've  brought  alM&by.Hom'e  ' 
•  with  you-^h  ?" 

"  Yea,  sir,"  replieicl  the  housekeeper.  -   '  ' 

"And  how  dare  you,  tna'atm^-hQw, iforf  you  bring 
such  a  thing  Here  ?"  roared  the  squire,  in  a  rage.     "Don't 
you  know  I  detest  the  whole^persuasion  under  twelve 
years  of  age?    Yes,  ma'ani!  you  know  it ;  and  yet  you 
went  and  brought  one*  here.    *The  way  of  the  trans- 
gressor is  hard,'  as  Solomon  says^  and  I'll  make  it  con- 
foundedly hard  for  you  if' you  don't  pitch  the  squalling  • 
brat  thisminute  out  of  the  window  !    D'ye  hear  t^iat  ?" 
^ .  "Yes,  sir,"  replied  Mrs.  Gower,  quietly. 
'    "  And  why  the  deuce  don't  you  go  aad  do  it,  tbea— 
cb?"  "  .--■■■:-  ^^^^'  ^;;.-;--v.- ^:-.:-:..-;-:- ,    -^-r: . ' ■  ; 

"  Because,  Squire  Brliston,  T  am  resolved  to  keep  the 
child,"  said  Mrs.  Gower,  firmly. 

"  \Yhat  t  what  I  what  !"  exclajmed  the  squire,  speech- 
less wfth  mingled  rage  &nd  astonishment  at  the  audap 
cious reply.    ""  "-  ^^^^ 

"  Yes,  sir,"  reiterated,  Mr?.  Gower,  resolutely.  "  I  con- 
sider that  child  s4l^  to*me  by  Heaven,  and  I  cannot  part 
with  it."   . 

"  Fudge !  stuflf !  ^ddlesticks.i  Sent  to  jpu  by  heaven, 
indeed !  S'pos^  heaven  ever  dropped  ^  young  one  on 
the  beach  ?    Likely  -story  l"  f  %  -  \ 

ih.  "  Well,  I  consider  it jlie  same'thing./ Some  ond  left 
it  on  the  beach,  and  heiven  destined  me  to  save  it" 

"Nonsense  !  no  su^h  thing !  'twas  that  stupid  rascal, 
Jupe,  making  you  getMt  I'll  horsckhip  him  within  an 
inch  of  bis  life  for  it !"  roared  the  did  man,  in  a  pi^ 
.sion.  ;.;;•;>■    ':  ."...,  ■  ■■     .  ''.::;';:■,:  .■',-::.,;^.,..: 

V  "  I  beg  you  will  do  no  such  thing,  sir.  It  was  no 
fault  of  Jupiter's.  If  you  insist  09  its  quitting>  the 
bQu»c,  there  remains  but  one  course  for  me," 


J- 


^ 


« 


"Co6found  it,  ma'am  ryou'd  iQake  a  Mint  swoMV  «• 


V  Jt 


L3" 


J'  s 


^   A 


MOUNT   SUNSET   HALL, 


»i< 


1^ 


v-ef    ^^ 


g*H^^?"*^^'    ^"^y^"  mo  what  «  that  course  ybu 
"I*must  leave  with  it."      '  'V 

"What  ?"  exclaimed  the  squire,  perfectly  airhast  with' 
^naazement   _.  .  ,  ■  \    - 

^  "  rmtist  leave  with  it !"  repeated  Mrs.  Gower,  rising 
rona  her  seat,  aad  speaking  quietly,  but  firmly. 

**  Sit  down,  ma'am— sit  down,  sit  down  !  Oh,  Lord  I 
Bt  me  catch  my  breath  !  Leave  with  it !  Jjwt  say  that 
ver  again^  will  you  ?.    I  don't  think  I  heard  right  " 

"Yoiir  ^rs  have  not  deceived  you.  Squire  Erliston. 
repeat  it,  if  that  child  leaves,  I  leave,  too !"  ^ 

You  should  have  seen  Squire  Erliston  then,  ak  he  sat 
^It  upright,  his  little  round  eyes  ready  to  p3p  froia 
leir  sockets  With  consternation,  storing  at  goSd  Mrs. 
lower  much  like  a  huge  turkey  gobbler.  Thit  rood 
ay  stodd  complacently  waiting,  with  her  handToo  the 
^ndle  of  the  door,  for  What  was  to  come  next  7 

She  had  not  long  wait;  for  such  a  storm  of  laire 
,rst  u^on  her  devoted  head,  that  anybody  else  woISd 
lye  fled  in,  dismay.    But  she,  "good,  easy  soul,"  was 
Nte  accustomed  to  that  sort  of  thing,  and  stood  ^in|r 
Ipon  him  as  serenely  as  a  well-fed  Biddy  might  on  an 
iraged  barn-yard  chanticleer. '  And  still  the  storm  of 
Ibusexaged,  interspersed  with  numerous  quotations  from 
irlT^^r^  r^'  doubtless,  of  impressing  her  that  his 
^rath  was  nghteous.    And  still  Mrs.  Gower  stood  se- 
fene  aM  unruffled  by  his  terrible  denuncUtions,  look- 
1^  as  placid  as  a  mountain  lake  sleeping  in  the  sun- 

iu«  ^;  "*'T?  "^^  V^****  ^  y^**  ^^"^  <>^  your  con. 
^Tr^  exclaimed  the  squire,  when  the  violence  of 
"8  rag^  was  Somewhat  exhausted. 

".Tu$t  what  I  did  befoie,  sir."        ■ 

"And  what  was  that,  eh?-what  was  that?"  '^' ■' 


'  > 


'M 


Ml 


'«.;»! 


--f.J 


H'..', 


\k-' 


Kt-.r^^ca'"*      -   i"  r 


J-  ' 


■>\ 


^t 


^ 


:■:>  •! 


^s 


4« 


M^UNT   SUNSET   ff^LL, 


\-k^-:) 


It 


% 


'i\ 


mly,  from  rage, 
get  excited-^no, 
But  mind  you, 


"That  I  have  done  right,  sir;  and  that  I  will:  keep^fh,e  •  | 

child  r         ; 

"yiw/wi///"  thundered  the  isqnire,  in 
"  "Yes,  sir!"  replied  Mrs.  Gpwer,  sUgthtly  appall^  &y  | 
is  terrible.<lDok,  but  never  flintching  in  her  dGt^i:ir^ina- 
ion.:  \*"     "'  •      ■'   ■    " ■  ■^'>_^' 

"  You^-you — ^you — ^abominable — female,  you !"  stam- 
mered the  squire,  unable  to  speak  cal 
Then-^e  added  :  "  Well,  well !  I  won't 
ma'am.     You  cail  keep  the  brat,  ma'am  ! 
if  it  ever  comes  across  me^I'll  wring  it$  neck  for  it  as,  I 
would  Chicken's  !"       '. 

" T^^n  I  may  keep  the  little  darling  I*"  said  good  Mrs. 
Gower,  gratefully.  "I  am  sure  I  aip  much  obliged, 
and—-" 

"There  !  there  !  there !  Hold  ypui*  tdhgiilB,  ma'i^m  ! 
Don't  let  me  hear  another  word  about  it— the  pest !  the 
plague !  Be  off  with  you  now,  and  send  up  dinner.  Let 
the  turkey  be  overdone,  or  the  pudding  burned,  at  your 
peril!  'Better  a  stalled  ox  with  quietness,  than  a  dry 
morsel,'  as  Solomon  says.  Hurry  up  ther^,  and  ring  fc 
Lizzie!"     -      ,      ,;  /  '  / 

Mrs.  Gower  hastened  from  the  room,  chdckling  at 
having  got  over  the  difficulty  so/easLly.    And  froin  that 
day  forth,  little  Aurora  as  her/kind  benefactj^eas  called  j 
hert  was  domesticated  at  Mount  Sunset  HalL 


gp 


/' 


LIZZIES    LOVER, 


'  ^     \  .  CHAPTER  VI. 

lizzie's   LOVpR. 

'*  S?"**  «*'^^  *^o  saint  nor  angel  he 

Who  wooes  Ay  young  simplicity ; 

But  one  of  earth's  impassioned  sons.  .^ 

.  '™l'^"'n  "» l^ve,  as  fierce  in  ire.  ^ 

AS  the  best  hMri  whose  current  runa  \ 

full  of  thd  day-ffod's  living  fire."  | 

,^  FiRB  WOKSKXnBSl 

IHE  inn  of  St.  Mai-k's  was  an  old,  bLwn 
wooden  house,  with  huge,  unpaintedshZril 
and  great  oak  doors,  that  in  sun»mer  ty  S 
ways  invitingly  open.    It  stood  in  the  Jnter 

Bhind  «  .^V  !''**!*«^^-^'***'^«^^'-«s'«retchinJaway 
ehind,  and  the  beach  spreading  out  in  front    0?^^e 

K  daughter  was^  the  tidiest  of  houJe^vT^- 
(ige,  oaken  door  in  front,  directly  und^hJ.iJr 

exr'frruxr:^  «rdei:^y:?  "r 

her  door  at  the  farther  end.  opened  intoTheTbie  ^r" 
if^at  either  end  r?Jt:rger:ag' 


K^thu;^';  fire":  "r^  """""^  •"'  "•p'  "«'"«^ 

r  J    ""«""'"«  on  a  cleaner  swept  betrth  than 


•; 


■» ' 


■.t>.i 


L^i 


1  s!^'\,»i 


-      'V.I 


nj 


^.r:-^~-. 


>w 


'^ 


t  I 


.s  / 


W' 


\ 


* 

'}    LIZZIES    LOVER. 


that  whidi  now  •roared  up  the  wide  fire-place  of  the 

"Eagle.",  '     ,  "/ 

It  was  a  gusty  January  night.  The  wind  dime  raw 
and  cold  over  the  distant  hills,  now  rising  fierce,  and 
hig#,  and  anOn  dying  aWay  in  low,  moaning  sighs  among 
the  shivering  trees.  On  the-  beach  the  waves  came 
Vamping  inward,  their  dull,  hollow  voices  booming  like 
distant  thunder  on  the  ear.  ^  .    .       * 

But  within  the  parjor  of  the  "  Eagle"  the  mirth  and 
laughter  were  loud  and  boisterous.    Gathered  around 
the  blazing  fire,  drinking,  smoking,  swearing,  arguing, 
were  fifteen  or  twenty  men--drovers,  Vmers,  fishermen^ 
find  loafers,  V     „      ..  f^s; 

"This  yer's  what  /  calls  cortifortable,  'said  a  lusty 
drover,  as  he  raised'a  foaming  mug  of  a^e  to  his  lips  and 
drained  it  to  the  liast  drop.  .      ^     ■-■■ 

"  I  swan  to  man  if  it  ain't  a  rouser  6f  a  night,  said 
a  rather  good-lookinig  young  fellow,  dressed  in  the 
coarse  garb. of  a  fisher4iian,  as  a  suddeft_gi;^  of  wind 
and  hail  cam6  driving  against  the  windows        _     ^    ^^ 

"Btetter  here  than  out  dn  the  bay  to-night,  eh,  Jim  ?* 
-  said  the  trover,  turning  to  the  l^t  speaker. 

"  Them's  my  sentiments,"  was  the  reply,  as  Jim  filled 

his  pipe. 

r    "  I  I'eckon  Jim  hain't  no  objection  to  stayin*  anywhere 

where  (Dasste  is,"  remarked  another,  diyly. 

"  Who's  taking  my  name  in  vain  here?"  called  a  clear, 
ringing  voice,  as  a  young  girl,  of  some  eighteen  years  of 
age,  entered.  Below  the  middle  size,  plump  and  rou!lid, 
with  pierrjr,  black  eyes,  a  complexion  decidedly  brown, 
full,  red  lips,  overflowing  with  fun  and  good-nature-^ 
such  was  Cassie  Fox,  the  pretty  little  hostess  of  the 


^aglfir 


.,■»_ 


Before  any  one  could  reply,  an  unusual  noise  in  toe 
t^-room  fell  upon  their  ears.  ^The  next  moment,  Sally, 


•.  -> 


k 


'A^ 


LIZZWS   LOVEk, 


the  black  maid-of-all-work,  came  into  the  "  big!  parlor, 

with  mouth  and  eyes  agape.  \ 

,    «'  Laws,  misses,"  she  said,  addressing  Cassie,  \  dar's  a 

gemroan— a  rale  big-bug4-out'n  de  bar-room  ;  a  'gpecta- 

ble,  Sponsible,  'greeablei^em man,  powerful  hansbrii,  wid 

brack  eyes  an' har,  an' 9  Carpet-bag !"   /    ^^.-V"^ 

"  Sakes  aliv#!"  ejaculated  Cassie,  drpj^^g  the  tray 

and  turning  to  the  lookfng-glass;  «h/s  handsome^  and 
^•Hny  hair's  awfully  mussed  I    Gracious  f  what  brthis  him 

here,  Sally?"'  .    -w-  ;  _  .  ;  •  l,^'.        ' 

"  Got  cotch  in  de  storm  ;  'deed  hi  did,  ehile—heanl  ^' 

him  tell  mai^e  so  my  own  blessed  seif." 

"Goodness  r  again  ejaculated  the'little  hostess.  « Tin 
all  in  a  flusterfication.  Handsomi !  dear,  del^  l--.my 
hair's  all  out  of  curl  I.  Black  eyesi—I  must  unpin  my 
dress  Nice  hair  !  Jim  Loker,  tak4  your  legs  out'of  the 
fire,  nobqdy  wants  you  to  make/an4irdi^s  of  'em."     ' 

J* Cass!     C^ss,    I    say!     Co^q   here,   you   CassT*  '■ 
called  the  voice  of  mine  host  f/om  the  bar-room 

.Cassie  bustled  out  of  the  roc/m  ^nd  entered  the  bar. 
Old  Giles  Fdx  stood  respectfully  before  the  stranger,  a 
young  man  wrapped  in  a  cloak,  tall  and  handsome;  ^ith 
a ^oit  of  dashing,  reckless  air,- that  well becamebimV 

Here,  Cass,"  said  hq- father,  "ihis  gentleman's  go- 
ing to  stay  all  night  Show  Mm  into  the  best  rwm,  and 
get  supper  ready.    Be  spry,  now.":  '.  ! 

\u  "u^.  ^""  ^*^  Cassie,  demurely,  courtesying  before 
the  handsQme  stranger,  i^^ho  grl^nceii  half  carelessly, 
half  admiringly,  at,  her  pretty,  face.  "This  way,  sir.  If 
[you  please."  ^  7»9»»", 

The  stranger  followed  her  into*  the  parlor,  and  ea- 
countered  the  battery  of  a  score  of  eyes  fix?d'  full  upon 
l'»*'n-    He  paused  in  the  doorway  and  glan^^od  aVuuud. 


. .  -  r 

-; 

:■-:.        3 

1  •- . 

■s*.  J\.A 

)ai 

'^^" '     m 

..  ^  ^  pf^ioii,"  he  said,  in  the  refined  tone  of  a  iren- 
^ciaan^  "  but  I  thought  this  room  was  unoccupied.   Can 

I-         ■■-■.■■■      '  J     .  ■      !  •  ■  , 


:;il 


.  fl 

^        'I 


Jl 


^*. 


.r^" 
^ 


.«*•• 


jr>.« 


»•    ■ -91  ■'.;.}  ■'!!}'    Jll^ 


W" 


LIZZIES   LOVEK. 


,     ,, .  "  ^'''  y?^ '"  *^e  sure,"  replied  the  littlfe  hostess  ;  '/step 
this  way,  sir,    and  Cassi^  rjin  up-statrs,  followed  by  the 
;     pew-comer,  whose  dar^  eyes  had  already  made>  deep 
impression  in  the  susceptible  heart  of  Cassie. 

-^He  threw  himself  Into  a  chair  before  the  fireltid 
fixed  his  eyes  thoughtfully  on  the  glowing  coals.  Cassie, 
having  placed  his  dripping  cloak  before  the  fire  to  dry 

^  ran  down  stairs,  where  he  could  distinctly  hear  her  shrm 
voice  giving  hasty  orders  to  the  servants. 
.    Supper  was  at  length  brought  in  by  Cassie,  and  the 

^^^"^  wUIvjhe  readitiass  of  one  tojehom  a  long 
.jpulTi^has  ^1  vert  aif  appetite.         ,/      ..m       -  «* 

*u*i^?^C^'^^*''^^'^'''^''P"s^^»»ff'^ackhis  chair,     «I 

think  I  ha^done  justice  to  your  cookery,  mYdear- 

Cassie— isn't  ^hat  whglthey  call  you  ?"  "*         ^ 

"Yes,  sir  f  aftei^a^opia,  who  was  queen  in  fiirriii 

^!Z}^^'  -^^^^^^  ^  '^^°*^'  ^*^  '*»«  °a«e  of  the 
l)iace,    said  Cassie,  complacently.  -^    » ',     ■ 

"^^^^  ^^   "^^    stranger,    repressirtg-   a  Ikugh. 
What  <Jo  you  .say  was  the  name  of  the  plkge  ?"      . 

«  Efiofia  r  re^eated^assie,  with  emphasis. 
♦  Ethiopia !     Oh,  I  understand  !     A^d  who  named 
stersr'^''  'ha^fai^  Qoeen,  who  now  resides  among  the 

"M^Qther,  of  course,  before  she  died,"  replied  the 
namesake  of  that  Ethiopian  queen.  "Shd  r^d  about 
iier  m  some  ^book,  and  named  me  accordingly  " 
\.  The  stranger  smiled,  and  fixed  his  eyes  il^eadily  oii 
the  complacent  face  of  Cassie;  with  an  expression  of 
mingled  ^usement  and  curiosity.  There  wa^  a  mo- 
ment s  pause,  and  then  he  asked  : 

« J'1°**  ^^^^  '°"  ^^  P^r«»«  St-  Mark's-!  mean,  what 
8ortofpeoplearethereil.it?" 


VJ^,;^ 


•li'' 


■  i»  *. '  » 


JJZZIES    LOVER. 


rV^ 


'M 


S3V 

"Oh,  pretty  nice,"  replied  dassiie;  "  mpst all likethose  '^ 
you  saw  down  stairs  in  the  parlor." 

*' But,  I  ihean  the  gentry."  g 

-VOh,  the  big-bugs.     Well,  yes,  fti< 
here.    First,  there's"  the  squire -' 


lere  is  some  of  'e^ 


^   '^Squire  who  ?"  interrupted  the  stranger,  with  a  look 
of  interest.  ^  ^ 

^   •"  Squire  Erlistqn,  of  course  ;  tte  lives  up  there  in  'a   > 
I //|)lace  called  Mount  Sunset."        / 

'     "Yes?"  said  the  young  man, inquiringly.  >'  '* 

«•  Yes,"  repeated  C^ssiopia,  "  with  his  daughter,  Miss^ 
Lizzie."  -*■■■.     -^  ■■,.  ■.,      Y 

"  Has  he  only  one  daughter  ?"  \ 

"  That's  all,  now.     He  had  two ;  but  Miss  Esther  iii1i>  * 
•  oflE  with  ^  wild  young  fellow,  an'  I've  beam  tell  as  how 
they  wer©both  dead,  poor  things  !    So  powerful  hand- 
some as  they  were  too — 'specially  him."  -.^ 
.    "And  Miss  Lizzie?"-                           .                -^^ 

"0*»»|e8.  V^eil,  you  see  she  ain't  married— she's 
more8«i^.  She's  awful  pretty,  too,  though  she  ain't  a 
mitAlike  Miss  Esther  was.  Laws,. she  might  have  bin 
married  iozens  of  times,  I'm  sure,  if  she'd  have  all  the 
gents  who  want  her.  She's  only  been  home  for  two  or 
three  months.;  she  was  oflf  somewhere  to  boardi6'-schpol 
to  lam  to  play  the  planner  and  make  picters  andsich." 

•|  And  the  papa  of  these  interesting  damsel%  what  is 
he  like  ?"  inquired  the  young  man. 

"  He  ?-.sakes  alLve  !  Why,  he's  the  ugliest-temptered, 
Grossest,  hatefullest,  disagreeablest  old  snapping-turtle 
ever  you  salv.  He's  as  cross  as  two  sticks,  and  as  sayage 
as  a  bear  with  a  sore  head.  My  stars  and  gartera!  I'd 
sooner  ruti  a  mile  out  of  my  waV  than  meet  htm  in  the 
street."  >   .    *  ■    .:  ■.<■.  ;.  ■ 

"Whe|i^  pleasant,  upon  my  word  !    Are  all  your 


it 


■yir. 


.:.>i«^" 


:r . 


54 


M 


t< 


^  .-1  -^^ 


Lizzies  LOVBR, 


A 


> '  t 


"  There  nin't  many  more, 'ieptiDg- Doctor  Nick  Wio.. 
»an,  and  tl^t  queer  old  witehjMiss-H^"  ,'?■ 

•  Jj^''*f'^  •"  "■"  ^i'''  »"«■•  »  t«»»-      "  No  •   he's  a 

mothr&td?  °"*  child,*  a^daugh.erfw';^: 

months  ^Id,  and  a  nevvy  a  year  oJ-  So  older.    No,  there 

am  t  no  young  ladjesil  ^ean  r^  iadies-in  the  vil  w7 

cept  Miss  Lizzie  Erliaon,"       ?^    \        .    ",""^""«8% 

_  _  He  paidno  attention  to  the  meaning  tone  in  which 

this  was  spoken,  and  after  lingiriAe  a  few  m„m-  . 

longer,  Cassie  took  herWve.SZ  wonLTnrwh^ 

theMgsome  and  inquisitive  stnin^QbT  "^ 

-P*aps  this-11  tell,"  said  CasI;  L, he  lifted  the 
stringer's  portmanteau,  and  examinedtit^/u^  £' 
name^hd  initials.    "Here  it   is,  I  ;de6 Wt  ^^  « 
ctam?^.  as  her  eye»  fell  on  the  letted  •'  B  a,"  ^^^ 

onihe  steel  clasp.    "B.  O     Iwnnrt-j,^.71i.  ^' 

for!    '  R  O'  i.     ck     1 J  .        "onaerwhat  them  sunds 
tori      BO  bo.    Shouldn't  wonder  if  hi  Was  .  h-.,, 
Sakes  alive !  what  can  hi.  name  be  Mdt^jW  „rZ 
want?^  WeU,a  ain't  likely  to  tell  anyM^X"*   ? 
don  tkno;^  myself.  'HashegotanygrownDdaTr??"' 
she  muttered,  as  the  young  man's  qofstioi  Xe^tal 
her  mmd.     "  Maybe  he's  a  fortin'  hunte»   X  wJi?.^? 
o-  sich.    Well,  I  hope  Mis.  Lizzie  w<«T  w!  «„J3, 
.o  do  with  him  if  h^is,  and  go  throw  herS^T^ro"! 
graceless  «»mp  like  MlSs  Esther  did.    Well,  &"  if 
hegoescourtin'  there,  old  Tfcunderclap  wil    hf^n  h  . 
wool,  and-O,  massy  on  us  \\  that  sTlly  hiiS  ■«  .he 
fire  go  dead  out,  while  I  was ISkirt' upttaC^  io, .  n  o' 
LttUe  black  imp  I  won't  I  givTlit  to  h«  "     T    \  ^:  ^^ 
The  morning  after  the  storm  dawned-clear  an^  cold 
All  traces  of  the  preceding  night',  temp^  taid  S 


•.^^•■i^t^^iimmmm.  w.  lu^ 


%■  "Fr« 


'Mv 


UZZrSS   LOVER. 


55 


A  peculiar  look 


away,  and tl|e  sua  Shofte fortbi}rightl7  in  ksky  of  clearijl 
cloudless  bljae.  T 

The  handsome  .ypung  stranger  stood  in  the  bar-room 
of  the  VEa^le,"  gazing  from  tlje  open  door  at  the  bay, 
sparkling  a^d,  flashing  in  the  sun's  light,  and  dotted  all 
oyer  with  fishing-boats.  Behind  the.  counter  sat  worthy 
Giles  Fox,  snu>king  his  pipe  placidly.  From  the  in.- 
terior  of  the  building  came  at  intervals  the  voice  of 

CasslcL^olding  rightj&nd  left  at  "  You  Sally  "and  "little 
black  mlp.".    ,;'"■;:■  ■.-'■"  ;■■'  X^---.  ■':::-<■•:  - 

Suddenly  the  strangerbeheld,  emeigidg  from  a  forest 
path  on  the.  right  of  the  inn,  a  gentleman  on  horsebatsk.  ' 
He  rode  slowly,  and  the  stranger  bbserved  that  all  the 
villagers  he  encountered  saluted  him  respectfully,  the 

men  pulling  off  their  hats,  the  women  droppin^.profound 
<x>urtesies,  and  the  ofaildren,  on  their  way  to  school,  by 
scampering  in  evident  alarm  across  meadows  and  fields, 
o  As  he  drew  rein  before  the  inn-door,  the  strahgia* 
drew  back.'r  The  old  gentleman  entered  and  approached 
the  bar 

"Good-morning,  Giles,"  he  said,  addressing  the  pro^ 
prietor  of  the  "  Eagle"  in  a  patronizing  tone.  ^ 

^  "Good-morning,  squire— good-n^orning,    sir.    Fine 
day  after  the  storm  last  night,  said  .the  host,  rising. 

"  Great  deal  of  damage  done  last  night— great  deal," " 
said  the  old  man,  tpeaking  rapidly,  ds  was  his  custom  : 
**  one  or  two  of  the  fishermen's  huts  down  by  the  shore 
washed  completely  away.  Yes,  sir—r  t  Careless  fools ! 
Served  'em  right.  Always  said  it  would  happeci— / 
knew  it.  •  Coming  events  cast  their  shadows  afore,'  as 
Solomon  says." 

The  young  stranger  stepped  forward  aud  8toodbefor« 

"  B^ pardon,  sir,"  he  said,  with  a  sligh^bow ;  "have 
I  the  honor  of  addressing  Squire  Erliston  t\ 


:ti 


^ 


'  si 


'■^ii 


■^,    A 


f"    - 


#^^ 


\" 


S«'*<S 


56 


1^ 


•L 


"*x."^ 


*^, 


LIZZIES    LOVER. 


"  Yes,  ydk--to  be  sure  you  hayej  that's  mb.    Yes,  * fn 


Who're  you,  eh  ?— who're  you  ?"  said  the  squire,  staring 
athim  vfith  his  round,  buUeteyes.  '  .    '       j 

"If  Squire  Erliston  will  glance  oyef  thid,  it  will  ko^ 
swer  his  question,"' said  the  ydung  map,  presenting  a 
__  letter,    -r^"'^-        .  ■  •- J/ -i^;-.' ,,' '    ■■'/■.;■'■■ 

The  squire  held  the  letter  in  his  hand,  and  stared  at 
him  a  moinent  longer ;  then  wip^d  bis  spectacles  and 
adjusted  them  upon  his  nose,  opened  the  letter,  and 
began  to  read.  » 

•  The  stranger  stood,  in  his  usiial  careless  manner,  leari^ 
ing  against  the  coupter,  and  watched  him  during  its 
perusal*. .      ;,..^  ,,>   : '^.,-/^.,. .,:i/•.,.^, ,-;;,./..:'.■/  ;5:,i:-_,  '.■>■■.     .  .; 

"  Lord  bless  me !"  exclaimed  the  squire,  as  he  finished 
the  letter.  "  So  you're  tbe  son  of  my  old  friend,  Oran- 
njprc  ?  Who'd  think  it  ?  You  weren't  the  size  of  a  well- 
grown  pup  when  I  saw  you  last.  And  you're  his  son  ? 
Well,  well !  Give  us  your  hand.  *  Who  knows  what  a 
day  may  bring  forth  ?'  as  Solomon  says.  Fd  as  soon 
have  thought  of  seeing  the  Khan  of  Tartary  here  as  you. 
Oranmore'ssqn  !  Well,well,  well!  You're  his  very  image 
Z^  trifle  better-looking.  And  you're  Barry  Oranmore  ? 
When  did  you  come,  eh  ?■— when  did  you  come  ?" 
'•Last  night,  sir.'* -^.^t-,---^_.,-_^fc,___-::^..l^-,„-:.^^^    ■ 

"  Last  night,  in  all  the  storm  ?  Bless  my  soul  I  Why 
didn't  you  come  up  to  Mount  Sunset  ?  Eh,  sir?  Why 
didn't  you  come  ?" 

♦'  Really,  sir,  I  feared " 

"  Pooh  .'—pshaw  !— nonsense  !— no,  you  did  not.  'In- 
nocence is  bold;  but  the  guilty  flee-eth  when  no  one 
pursues,' as  Solomon  says.    What  were  you  afraid  of? 
S'pose  everybody  told  you  I  was  a  demon  incarnate—  ^ 
confound  their  impudence !    But  I  ain't  ;  no,  «>/    'The 


'^fe: 


.   ,       ,  l^lack  as  he'»  paintedf^ 

,,  ot  if  he  didn't  say  it,  he  ought  to. 


-*>?fl 


r^  .. 


•^m 


,».^^"„i»'»kiC»^ 


Ij^. 


N"* 


'>    , 


LIZZIES    LOVER,  ^7 

**  Indeed,  sir,  I  should  be  sorry  to  think  of  mytather'? 
old  friend  in  any  such  way^  I  beg  to  assure  you." 

"No,-you  won't— haven't  time.  Come  up  to  Mount 
Sunset— come,  right  off !  Must,  sir— no  excuse ;  Liz '11 
be  delighted  to  see  you.    Come— come— come  alotig  !"; 

"Since  you  insist  upon  it,  squire,  I  shall  do  myself 
thepleasureof  accepting  your  invitation.",      \^         - 

"  Yes,  yes— to  besure  you  will !"  agaitf  in'teirnjpted  the 
impatient  squire.  "  Bless  my  heart !— and  you're  little 
^rry.    Well,  well !"       V 

^  "  I  am  Barry,  certainly,"  said  the  young  man,  smiling ; 
V^Dut  whether  the  adjective  'little'  is  well  applied  or 
iiot,  I  feel  somewhat  doubtful.  I  have  a  dim  recollec- 
tion of  measuring  some  six  feet  odd  iiidhes  whtn  I  left 
home."  \  .  * 

^     "Ha,  ha,  ha  !— to  be  sure  i  to  be  sure  !"  laughed  the 
lusty  old  squire.    ^'Little !— by  Jove  I  you're  a  he^and 
shoulders  taller  tlian  I  am  myself.     Yes,  sir— true^ 
gdspel.   ♦  Bad  weeds  grow  fast,'  as  Solomon  says,  lord 
wm'i  my  Liz  be  astonished,  though  ?"        ^    ,  ■ 

"  I  hope  your  daughter  is  quite  well,  squire."  \  ^ 
"Well!— you'd  better  believe  it.  My  daughter^  i* 
ttever  sick.  No,  sir ;  got  too  much  sense— specially  Li«. 
Esther  always  was  a  simpleton— ran  away,  and  all  that^ 
before  she  was  out  of  her  bibs  and  tuckers.  Both  died-^ 
knew  they  would.  •  The  d^ys  of  the  transgressors  shall 
be  short  on  the  earth,'  as  Solomon  says.  But  Liz.  has  got 
her  eye-teeth  cut.    Smart  girl,  my  Liz." 

"I  anticipate  great  pleasure  in  making  the  acquaint- 
atio«  of  Miss  Erliston,"  said  Oranmore,  carelessly  ;  V'her 
beauty  and  accomplishments  have  made  her  name  fan^- 
iar  to  me  long  ago."  ;,.;.-< 


r    .  'Ml 


•lookingT^eucedly^good-look- 


ing;  very  like  what  I  was  at  her  a^'e.    Ah,  you're  laugh- 
ing, you  rascal !    Well,  I  dare  say  I'm  no  beuity  mw/ 

5  '   '' 


•* 

•,,»■ 

•*. 

-i* 

M 

• 

-.'  ^    .r      ■ 


LIZZIES    $.QV£R,  .  ' 

vbttt .never  miha^thatut  presen^.    'Handsome  is  as  hand- 
some aoes,' as  Solotnon  says.    Come,  get  your  traps  and 
;  come^along.    Giles,  fly  round— we're  lii  a  liurry.'*^ 
'  :      Thus  adjured,  Giips  kindly  consented  to  "  fly  round  '• 

All  was  soon  ready  ;  and,  afj;er  giving  order*  to  h^Ve  his 
portmanteau, sent  after  him,  young  Oranmore  mountisd  ^ 
ms- horse,  and,  accompanied,, by  the  squire,  rode  off 
^ward  Mount  Suiiset  Hall,  the  squire  enlivening  the 
way  by  numerous  quotations'  from  Solomon.  * 

On  reaph^pg  the  Hall,  his  host  ushered- him  into  the  . 
Pfirlor    where,  sealed  at  the  pUno,  was    the  squire's 
daughter,  Lizzie,  singing,    by   some,  singular   cowci.  ' 

-  -^        "There's  somebody  coming  to  many  mo-i..      ^ 

There  si^sodiebody  coming  to  woo.^^      v,     ».  ,,     , 

•      .     .  . ,    -.v.        '•■'•.  .  .■;        ^  ,  'f    • 

J^  Whether  Miss  Lizzie  had  seen  that  saffi^iefy  coming 
J  through  the  \vindow,  I  Cannot  say.  .''  *    , 

She  rose  >br;iptly  from   her  seat  as   they  entered, 
exclaimidg :  %  •         ||  ,.^^       ;      /? 

..     "Oh,  papa  !  I'm  sd-glad  you,  have  come."    '  ,      ',*    '     . 
Then,  seeing  the  stranger,  she  drew  back  With  the     ' 

prettiestaffectatioAof  em^rrassment  in  theworld. 
i    ^.   ^i^ic  Brliston  was  pretty-^decidedly  pretty— with  a 
little  round,  graceful  figure,  snowy  complexion,  rosebud     * 
lips,  ^nd  sparkling,  vivacious  blue   eyes.      Graceful 
Jhoughtless,  airy,  dressy,  and  a  most  finished  flirt  was*     ' 
little' Lizzie.         '    .    -  • 

"Mr.  Oranmcfe,  my  daughter  Liz;  Liz,  Mr.  Oran- 
more, son  of  my  old  friend.    Fact!    Hurty  up  break-     " 
fast  now— I^  starving."  ^     ^ 

"  I  am  delighted  to  welcome  the  son  of  papa's  friend  " 
;8aid  Lizzie,  courtesying  to  the  handsome  stranger,'  who 
''^tyned  the  salutation  with  easy  gallantry.  .      / 

— ^H«k^3t^was  brougnr  In,Vnd  the  trio,  together  with  ' 


.  s 


^ 

•%,.-■• 

:.ii  ■ 

■ 

1 

■''ik  m. 

-M»;-.'i.*-*'"w-, 


'■'U 


I»^ 


•  worthy    Mrs.  Gower,    Mnere    so6ii    sea^ld  around    the 

"I  am  afraid,  Mr.  OranraorC,  rou  will  find  it  very 
dull  hero,. after  being  accustomfcd  to  the  gayety  of 
city,  life.^    Oh?  village  is  .the  duietest  place   in  the 

.  .  world/''- ■■""V'.'^v;:"^  ".".^:.r-"\;" t-  ^nr-c:-    ■•  •.;■ 

:.-..     "DuUr   repeated  OramJibreJ    "Did   aniels  ever; 

condescend  ^  dwell  on  this  eartl    I  stould  say  they 
'  ^  had  takenoip  their  abode  ih  St.^a^k'sl"  T  ,  >  >    , 

--  -^^  fixed4iis  large  dark  eyes  Qii  her  fabe,^nd  bowed-  p 

with  a  look  of  such  ardent  yet/respectfiil  tfdmir^tion 
.as  he  spoke,  that  Lizzie  blushed  "celestiil;  rosy  red"* 

and  thought  it  ^he  prettiest  speech  she  had  ever  heard. 
"  Fudge  r  grunted  the  kjuir^.  "  . 

"Ah,  Mr.  Oranmore,  I  so6/ypu  arp  a  j^d^ flatterer," 
said  the  little  lad^,  smilipglyJbuttferrng,an6ther  roll. 

"Not  so,  MissErliston.    Pare  I  speak  what  I  think, 

I  should  inde<sd  be  d^ineU  a  flatterer,'*  replied  Oran^ 

more,  gallantly.  •  ■  ^   l^      /    j 

'       "  Bjfli  r  ^utdpM  the  iiujif^  witrfa  l^l?  of  in^nse 

^  disgust    '•::  .^'-^^  ■",:,.':■'*.■■■■ ".      ■  .  ■■■ 

At  this  mo^e  It  a  child's  shrill  screams  resounded  in. 

one  of  the  rooms  above,  growing  louder  and  louder  each 

.•mbment.    _'  ^    ■  \      .,_;,..,,_■,....,__,'.".'-•:    *:\     ,  '■    •■  ■  ^ .;   "\ 

«lW4hat'ft  Aurdra!  ■  Ju^  lis^n  t^  the  ittle 
wretch  I  ^claimpd  Lizzi©  «  That  child  will  b4  the 
death  of  us  yet,  with  lier  horrid  yells.  Her',  lungs  must 
be  made  of  cast-iron,  or  something  harder,  for  she  is  in- 
cessantly screaming."  «.  --,:',  V 
-  The  Squire  darted  kn  angry  look  at  Mrs.  (iower,  who 
Altered  out :  She  was  very  sorry— that  she  had  told 
Totty  to  be,  sure  a^  keep  h^r  quiet-that  she  didn't 
know  what  wasthe  Satter,  she  was  sure ' 

"Rtngthebfllll"said4he' 


•^  I 


^      'A 


t- 


'i 


TJCJ" 


60' 


,lt 


LIZZIES   LOVBIL 


ToT*    ^''®  ®"""*°"^  w*«  answered  by  the  littledarkeyv 
*      '  4.  >jy  *"  '     ''  ' 

« n  T^"*  u  °"^"  "^^'^^'^  '^«  natter  r  said  Lii;?ie.. 
r  tcmS^strwrH'^'  baby.squalling  there  like  a  little 
I.  tempest?    Why  don't  you  attend  to  her?"  ' 

._"  ,  °r  •  **'*s  Lizzie,  'twan't  none  o'  my  fault— 'deed 
Wtr^aid  the  little  darkey.  ^Mi^RoLrWnS 
cause  she^eant  put  her  feet  1%  4e^«gar-bowl.    'Deed  I 

S^r       '"^ "?  "^^^  "^^  precious  liW.    Nobody  can't 
.  aoiMithingwiddat;ar  little  limb."    ' 

:  .«or'?l'^°  something  to ^  you  woti't  like  if  you  don't  ^ 

.,V  i»ake  h6r  stpp  !"  said  the  angry  squire.    "Be  off  with 

you  now  ;  and,   if  I  hear  another  word.  1*11— I'lJ  twist 
^  yourneck  for  yoH,r  u  a,  1 11    *"  twist 

in/ln^o?"*'  '  ^^^^T}  ''^°''  "'^P  ^^'"  ^id  TotU  dodg. 

ing  in  alarm  toward  the  door.  /»    "  s 

K  /'  ®n  °^  r  i^""^«''«d  the  squire,  in  a  rage,  hurling  a 

afd  ~"  .^','^  ^^l*^'^  ^^<^  of  Tptty,  Who  adfoidy  dodfed 
and  vanished  instanter.    ,  ''  »  •' **'^^&^^ 

wn3  ^"  ^Jifbolicarinventions,  yoiidg  one$  are  the  - 
^        worst!    snappishly  exclaimed  Squire  Erliston,  bringing 

'        ipg  draught  when  it  takes  to  yelling/ rii-!rii_i.ii__3; 

citv-trokeirT-  ^'' ^'^^^^^-'  ^  you  are  from  the 
city,  broke  m  Lizzie,  "perhaps  you  itaay  have  heard  of 
some  one  there  who  has  lost  a  child-?"  ' 

"What-what  ,did  you  say?~a  child  T   exclaimed 

Oranmore,  startinjr  so  suddenly  and  looking  so  wi^^^^^ 
^^  ^  .  all  looked  at  him  in  surprise.     '  f  ^^^ 

ui  r  ^^'  ^"''  '^^^''  "^  '"^''^  P**^  y°"  ^°°^T  ^»"«  yo"  • 

\ri^hlL  ^?k"°  •  P?^  ^°  ^°'"  «»»^  Orarimor*,  wcov-  V" 
cnng  hinj^elf  by  an  effort.  .  * 

" WcHVl^t  Christmas  eve.  Mrs  Gnwer  was  retuiu-  ^ 


,w 


f:--- 


-.  lA^ . 


«Jt 


4-^ 


"la 


'■/   W»":."- .tSMiB!|f>. 


T^'ttf! 


LIZZIES    LOVMR, 


6 1 


\ 


ing  from  the  city,  where  she  had  been  to  make  purchases 
and  taking  the  shore  road,  picked  up  an  infant  on  the 
beach,  and  brought  it  home.  It  is  a  wonder  no  inquiries 
were  made  about  it.*'  H»"»c5» 

K.'i^'?,?!"T'^  breathed  freely  again.  It  could  hot 
be  Awcliild,  for  hehad  seen  the  nurse  before  leaving  the 

S-'^'u^fj  ^  ^'  ^^*"°S^  '**  *®^  ^^^  annuity,  had  told -him 
the  child  was  alfve  and  w^i;  therefore  Umust  bean-' 
-  olhejr.  •  -.1  ■:'..■,•       M:-  •."^<n* 

'A  week  passed  rapidly  away  at  Sunset  Hall/  There 
were  sails  on  the  bay,  and  rides  over  the  hills,  and  shady 
forest  walkg„and  drives  through  the  village,  and  lone 
romantic  rambles  fn  the  moonlight.'   Afid  Lizzie  JErlis. 

^hJt^'A  ""%  ^^^^  ^^«  thought  so  Sometimes 
When  his  deep,  ^^ark  eyes  would  rest  on  her,  and  fitl  with 
softesr  languor  as  they  wandered  side  by  sid«.  But. 
then,  had  she  not  discovered  his  restlessness,  his  evid^t 

S"^  K°  ^  r^^'  '''^"S^**  ^«  ^''^  remained ?    Some- 
thing  m  his  conduct  saddened  and  troubled  her  :  for  she 
loved  him  as  devotedly  as  it  was  in  the  power  of  a  nature  ' 
essentially  shallow  and  selfish  to  love,  "^ut  [he  dan'e  !  ' 
ous  spell  of  his  voice  and  ^mile  threw  a  glamour  over 
her  senses     She  could  almost  have  loved  his  very  faults    . 
had  she  known  them.     And,  yielding  herself  to  thai 
Witching  spell    Lizzie  Erliston:  who  had  often  ^ug^^^ 
others,  at  last  found  herself  caught 


.'% 


-i  »■       ^  , 


*i..' 


-^1 


-     {   •         -/      ^ 

-^  '    . 

'       ■           *      "         ' 

"    "'  <*4 

t  ^v 


< 


69 


rA' 


T^£    CYPHESS    WMATff. 


r  \ 


-  \ 


\  . 


-  ^i. 


J'. 


In 


— ^         « 


CHAPTER  VII. 

TH«  CVPRESS  wreath.     '*«'    ' 

Did  th«  fluttering  of  thy  breath 

A^  j^u    i°y  ^"^  woe  beneath  ? 

And  the  hue  that  went  and  came 

On  thy  cheek  Jike  waving  flame.         ' 

Fiowed  that  crimson  from  the  unrest. 

Or  the  gladness  of  thy  breast  ?»-Hi'MAMs 


jQUIRE  ERLISTON.  can  I  have  a  few  a. 

I    meijts   private  conversatidn  with  you  this 

morning?"  said  Oran more,  as  he'^^ught 

.  .         ^»»e  .sq'Jtre,    whom  Mrs.  Gower  was  just 

Barry  Oranniore  sto^  in  tht^  m\AA\J  Lt  ^i,  « 
r^ng  one  hand  .igMpT.  Ihe'^r^ltchiXZ' 
Erli^on,  propped  upio  an  easy-chair  with  DUlo»?r„^ 
cushW  and  wearing  aa  unusually  bT^  «°rm1on 
of  countenance— caused,  orobahi/  wTu-  **P"^'°'» 
.«t«o,d,na.yq„ietnes^'„l°f;'i'^„'^  "•?»  Auro™'. 

Ifou  have  doubtless  perceived,  air  m^  of»-«J- 
your  daughter,"  went  on.L^ouli  man  L  "^ir.V^ 
was  almost  careless.    "  Miss  LiizS  T^l  '^' 

murns  my  afiection  ;  and,"  ^ho«  's  r.rhav?Kt"fs 
•nteWew  to  solicit  your  daughter's  haid  "  '^"   ' 

He  bowed  slightly,  and  stiod  awaiting  a  reolv     Th- 
•q™« Jumped  from'hi,  seat,  kicked  on!  pilS^Tto^e 


■v^ 


•~iy 


f 


n'^em/r-  mut-'vt.. 


.  ,',„,  ^., 

' 

♦/ 

< 

•y 

THE    CYPRRSR    WREA. 


V      * 


7"v 


ICx 


H 


'  ^' 


other  end  of  the^giM»m,  waved  another  Lbove  his  head,' 
and  shouted : 

"  Bless  my  soul !  it's  just  what  I  Wainted  f  Give  ua 
your  hand,  my  dear  boy.  Solicit  her  hand!.  Take  il^ 
take  it,  with  all  my  heirt.  If  she  had  a  dozen  of  hands, 
you  should  have  them  all."  "  I  .  ;    ^   - 


« I  thank  you  sincerely,  SqulreErOTsidri^^ 
it  only  needed  your  consent  to  our  UniJn  to  fill  my  cup 
of  kdjjpittfss  to  the  brim."  | 

His  voice  was  low--almost  scornfill ;  «^  the  em^ 
phasis  upon  "happiness"  was  bitter,  (ndeed.  But  the 
squire,  in  his  delight,  neither  heeded  nor  noticed. 

^he  wedding  must  come  off  immidiately,  my  deac 
low.  We'll  have  a  rousing  one,  and  no  mistake.  I 
was  afriiid  Liz  mig"ht  run  off  with  sdm<^  penniless sqimp, 
as  Esther  did  ;  but  now  it's  all  right. !  Yes,  the  sooner 
the  wedding  comes  off  the  better.  *  H^  who  giveth  pot 
his  daughter  in  marriage,  doeth  widl ;  but  he  who 
giveth  her  doeth  better,^  as  Solomon)  ought  to  knoW* 
seeing  he  had  some  thousands  of  'em./  Be  off  now,  and 
arrange  with  Lizzie  the^y  for  the/ wedding,  while  I 
take  a  sleep.  When  it's  air  over,  waie  nwuaf  There, 
go!  Mrs.  GoweU  hallo  I  Mrs.  G^er,  I  say!  come 
herewith  the  pillows."  I 

Oranmore  hurried  out,  while  Mrsj  Gower  hurried  in 
—he  to  tell  Lizzie  of  the  success  of  h^s  mission,  and  she 
to  prepare  her  master  for  the  arms  ol  Morpheus. 
A.  ^'^^^  ^%/°;'''"»&»»t  was  fixed  upoi  as  their  mirriage- 

day.    The  Bishopof  P was  to  visit  St.  Mark's,  wd 

during  his  advent  in  the  vUlage  the  huptialj  Were  to  be 
celebrated.  ^ 

And  such  a  busy  placeXas  Sunseti  H^l  became  after 
the  important  fact  was  an^u need  !  Poor  Mrs.  Gower 
lost,  perceptibly,  fifty  pounds  of  flesh,  with  running  in 
and  out,  and  ••"  -'-'*  -» •        -^-  -  •  ■" 


"P  nnd  down  stairs,    did  cm  pels  and  old 


4 

'% 

I** 


)  . 


^ 


?a*  ^j 


.A, 


7  ••' 


<>-' 


■<>•. 


"^v-'K 


64 


rJSrS    CYFUESS    WREAfH, 


lA^ 


servants  were  turned  out^  and  new  curtains  and  French 
cooks  turned  in.     Carpets  and  custards,  and  icc-cre^ms 
and  Aurora's  screams,  and  milliners  and  feallj>crs,\and^ 
flpwers  and  flounces,  aftd  jellies  and  jams,  and  upholstery^ 
reigned  supreme,  until  the  squire  swore,by  all  the  "  iends 
'   in,  flames"  that  it  was  worse  than  panBemonium,  an 
rushed  from  the  place  in  despair  to  seek  refuge  withi 
Giles  Fox,  and  smoke  his  pipe  in  peace  at  the  "Eagle." 
Barry  Oran more,  finding  his  bride  so  tusily  engaged 
superintending  jewels,  and  satins,  and  laces,  as  to  be  able 
to  dispense  with  his  services,  mounted  his  horse  each 
day,  and  seldom  returned  before  night.     And,  amid  all 
the  bOstle  and  confusioD,  no  one  noticed  that  he  grew 
thinner  and  paler  day  after  day  j  nor  the  deep  melan- 
choly filling  his  daj-k  eyes ;  nor  the  bitter,  self-scorning' 
Jook  his  proud,  handsome  face  ever  wore.    They  knew, 
not  how  he  paced  up  and  down  his  room,  night  a^ter 
night,  trying  to  still  the  sound  of  one  voice  that  was  ever 
moarnfully  balling  his  name.    They  knew  not  that  when 
he  quitted  the  brilliantly-lighted  rooms,   and  plunged' 
into  the  deep,  dark  forest,  it  was  to  shut  out  the  sight  9f 
.  a  sad,  reproachful  face,  that  ever  |;iauiited  him,  day  aiAi 
night. 

Lizzie  was  in  her  glorj',  flitting  about  likea  bird  from 
morning  till  night.  Such  wonderful  things  as  she  had 
,  manufactured  out  of  white  satin  and  Mechlin  lace,  and 
such  confusion  as  she  caused-— jlying  through  the  house,' 
boxing  the  servants'  ears;  and  lecturing  Mrs.  GoWerand 
shaking  Aurora— who  lyid  leave  now  to  yell  to  her 
heart's  content-^--and  turning  everything  topsy-turvy, 
until  the  squire  brought  doWn  his  fist  with  a  thump,  and 
^declared  that  though  Solomon  had  said  there  was  a  time 
for  everything,  nefther  Solomon;  nor  any  other  man, 
could  ever  convince  him  that  there  was  a  time  allotted 
for  such  a  racket  and  rumpus  as  thaU 


V 


^i 


ir'  - 


i>» 


^"■ip'^^^t^ 


i-; 


j  --■■W''^ 


TffS    CYPHESS    WREATH, 


65 


.■■■..■       I      ■■     ^f    ■  •  /■  —      .  •< 

.        ■'..-'..'  *•" 

But  out  of  chads,  long  ago,  was  brought  forth  ordcf; 
and  the  "eye  before  the  bridal "  everything  in  Stinset  ' 
Hall  was  restored  to  peace  and  quietness  once  more. 
The  rooms  were  perfectly  dazzling  with  the  glitter  of  new 
furnitiirc  and  the  blaze  of  myriads  of  lusters.     And  such 
a  crowd  as  on  the  wedding  night  filled  those  splendid 
rooms !    There  was  Mrs.  Gower,  magnificent  in  brown  . 
velvet,  preserved  for  state  occasions  like  the  present, 
with  such  a  miraculous  combination  of  white  ribbons  ' 
and  lace  on  her  head.    There  was  the  squire,'  edifying 
the  public  generally  with  copious  extracts  froij^Solomdo 
afid  sdme  that  were  not  from  Solonion:    There  was  M^i. 
Oran more,  grim  and  gray  as  ever,  moving  lilce4he  guilty 
shadow  of  a  lost  soul,  through  those  gorgeous  robms 
and  that  glittering  crowd,  with  the  miserable  fueling  at 
her  heart,  that  her  only  son  was  to  be  ofifered  that  nighta 
sacrifice  on  the  altar  of  her  pride  and  ambition.  There  Was 
Doctor  Wiseman,  all  legs  and  arms,  as  usual,  slinking 
among  the  guests.  T^ere  was  the  bishop,  a  fat,  pompous, 
oily-lookiqg  gentleman,  in  full  canonicals,  waiting  to 
tie  the  Gordian  knot. 

There  was  a  bustle  near  the  door,  a  staying  to  and 
fro  of  the  crowd,  and  the  bridal  party  entered  Every 
voice  was  instantaneously  hushed,  every  eye  was  fixed 
upon  them.  How  beautiful  the  bride  looked,  with  h^r 
elegant  robes  and  gleaming  jewels,  her  downcast  eW" 
and  rose-4ushed  cheeks,  and  half-smiling  lips.  The  eyes 
oiallthegentlemenpresentweje  fixed  wistfully  upon 
her.  And  the  eyes  of  the  ladieii  wandered  to  the  bride- 
groom, with  something  very  like  a  feeling  of  awe,  as 
they  saw  how  pale  and  cold  he. was  looking—how  dif- 
fcrent  from  any  bridegroom  they  had  ever  seen  before. 
Were  his  thoughts  wandering  to  another  bridal,  in  a  land 
beyond  the  sea,  with  one  for  whose  blu«  eyes  and  golden 
hair  he  would  them  willingly  have  surrendered  fame,  an<|. 


•j'^  -"*  f 

-  ■  < 


n 


'i 


m 


-ti>i 


'm 


■*r 


m. 


i 

ni^ 

^^■Xi 

v 
i 

1 

^■^'l 

m 

y)^  66 


TIf£    CYPJRSSS 


• 
.  * 

'j^^Ib^mS^m^?.  ' .  .'*'. 

'^■i^ 

Wl 

^Srar.    ■ 

1 

u. 


wealth,  and  ambition?  Andvjiow,  she  who  had  left 
friends,  and  h^me,  and  country  for  his  sake,  was  deserted 
for  anothmr.  Yet  still  that  unknown,  penniless  girl  was 
dearer  than  all  Ihe  world  beside.  Well  might  be  look 
and  feel  unlike  a  bridegroom,  with  but  one  ima^  filling 
his  heart,  but  one  name  on  his  Xv^^—^'-EveUent-ltoeleeHr 
But  no  on^  there  could  read  the  hesari^  throbbing  so 
tumultuously  beneath  that  cold,  proud  ^^xterion  .  They 
passed  through  the  long  rooms — the  bishop  stood  before 
them— >the  service  began.  To  him  it  seeoMd  like  the 
service  for  the  dead-9to  A^  it  was  the  most  delightful 
thing  in  the  world.  Inhere  was  fluttering  of  fans,  flirting 
of  perfumed  handkei^itofs,  smiling  lips  and  eyes,  and 


\. 


*'  With  decorum  all  things  carried  ; 
Miss  smiled,  and  blushed,  and  then  was— manied." 


The  ceremoBy  was  over,  and  Lizzie  Erlifton  was 
Lizzie  Erli^G^  no  longer. 

But  just  at  thsit  moment,  when  the  crowd  around  were 
about  to  press  forward  to  offer  their  congratulations,  a 
loud,  ringing  footstep,  that  sounded  as  though  shod  with 
steel,  was  heard  approaching.  A  moment  more,  and  an 
uninvited  guest  stood  among  them.  The  tall,  jthin,  sliarp, 
angular  figure  of  a  woman  past  middle  age,  with  a  grim» 
*  weird,  old-maidenish  face  ;  a  stiff,  rustling  dress  of  iron- 
gray;  a  black  net  cap  over  her  grizzled  locks,  and  a 
tramp  like  that  of  a  dragoon,  completed  the  external  of 
|htS  rather  unprepossessing  figure. 

All  fell  back  and  made  way  for  her,  whU^a  murmur : 
*-'  Miss  Hagar !  What  brings  Miss  Hagafnere  ?"  passed 
through  the  room. 

She  advanced  straight  to  where  Lizzie  stood,  leaning 
preudly  and  fondly  on  the  arm  of  Oranmore,  and  draw- 


•,r 


lag  forth  a  wreath  of  mingled  cypress  and  dismal  y«ilr» 


. 'f ' 


,t  V 


^■w-Va4% 


w^ 


^/■'■: 


rv>. 


*,*; 


brid«!'"°"  ""  °'"°*''  WoMom.  on  the,  head  of  the 

With  a  shriek  of  «uper«iJious.tet4r,  Lkzie  tore  the 
ommou,  wreMh  from  her  hWd,  arfd  flu-gf  oe  thTflooi 
Heeding  „ot  the  actio.,  the  wo»,«»l&d  h„^lo«' 
gaunt,  fle»hle»|™  like  an  Inspired  sil^od  chanSS 


V-^: 


Si^HI^^  to  thee  1 
J^JKpPTQg  leaves  deck  the  tree, 
Tjojf-Tocks^you  now  with  jewels  twine 
Shall  wear  this  cypress  wreath  of  mina'* 


^  stridlfag  through  the  awe-struck^rowd,  ih« 
passed  out  and  disappeared.  ^ 

,.r/^"!  *"**  "*'*'  '"''**  '*"°'''  ^^*»«  Wd  her  face  in  the 
arm  that  supposed  her.  A  moment's  tUence  ensu^ 
bj^okcm^  the  s,ui^  Who  came  stampinnL:^':^ 

iJl^^  '"'^V'  ^^^  matter  here  I    Have   either  of 

hese  good/people  repented  of  their  baigain,  aln»dv 

'Better  late  than  never,' as  Solomon  says"  ^' 

Idict  fortunes,  as  usual,"  said  dIH.  Wi«jman,  with\m 
uneasy  attetnpt  at  a  laugh,  "and  succe<Med  in  scaring 
M.SS  Litoie-Mrs.  Oranmore,  I  mean-^f  out  of  hel 
"*?*•  •■  ■*•■■  -■    - 

fool?  Thif'^*' '  i^that  all.    Lia,  don't  be  such  .little 
fool!    Thefe  goes  the  music.    Let  evcfy  youngster  be 

f  l^'P""^'?  °'  ^"^'^'  '^  thedancing^V    'lime to 
dance,  as  Solomon  says»  ^d  if  it's  not  at  weddings,  Vd  ^ 
liice_^to  know  when  it  is.    Clc^r  !"  »8».  «  a 

us    adjured,  with   a  great  deal  of  laughing  and 


flew  open,  uid  n»riy  feet  were  »Mn  tripping  gjyjy  Z 


.#7yf' 


■67-m;  ;•: 


■'t^ 


/■-■■"^V, 

•'-'  ■# 


" '   *■**  ill 


v.: 


n.sa 


•>J 


',»,     Is 


'.* 


*U     ''.' 


I.  '«  I  1 


V 


- 1 


H 


'•r.,^  \ 


if': 


":i. 


;<J 


V      ■  , 


rT^f/^nP??^^,^ 


66 


Y^IE 


CYPRESS    WREATJEL 


the  music,  and  flirting,  and  laughing,  and  love-making, 
and  ice-creams  were  soon  at  their  height,  and  Lizzie,  as 
she  floated  airily  around  the  room  in  the  waltz,  soon  for- 
got all  about  Miss  Hagar's  predjfion.  Barry  Oranmore, 
by  an  effort,  shook  off  his  gloom,  and  laughed  wjth  the 
merriest,  ^nd  waltzed  with  his  bride,  and  the  pretty  bride- 
maids  •  and  all  the  time  his  heart  was  faraway  with  that 
haunting  shape  that  had  stood  by  his  side  all  the  night 

V  ,.•;  .-^   :  •^       .  *    ■     *       ^  *.  -■.  > 

A  month,  had  passed  away.  Their  bridal  tour  had 
been  a  short  one,  and  the  newly  wedded  pair  had  re^ 
turned  to  Sunset  Hall.  And  Lizzie  was  at  last  begin^ 
ningto  open  her  eyes,  and' wonder  what  ailed  her  husband 
So  silent,  so  absent,  sd  restless,  growing  more  and  more 
so  day  after  day.  His  long  rides  over  the  hills  were  now 
taken  alone;  and  he  would  only  return  to  Jie  on  a 
lounge  in  some  darkened  room,  with  his  face  hidden 
from  view  by  his  long,  neglected  locks.  At  first  she 
pouted  a  little  at  this ;  but  seeing  it  produced  ho  effect, 
she  at  last  concluded  to  let  him  have  his  own  way,  and 
she  would  take  hers.  So  evening  after  evening,  while 
he  lay  alone,  so  still  and  motionless,  in  his  darkened 
chamber,  Lizzie  frequented  parties  and  soirees,  giving 
plausible  excuses  for  her  husband's  absenceymnd  was  the 
gayest  of  the  gay.     t 


,  / 


-\^  ^ 


I 


One  rndtnipg,  returning  with  the  gray  dawn,  from  an 

unusually  brfliiant  soiree,  she  inquired'  for  her  husband,    ', 

and  learned  that,  half  an  hour  before,  he  had  called  for 

his  horse  and  ridden  off.    This  did  not  surprise  her,  for 

it  had  often  happened  so  before ;  so,  without  giving  the- 

matter  a  second  thouglit,  she  flung  heflelf  on  her  bed, 
and  fell  fast  asleep.         „^ ^    ::.__..._.,..  _„l^^_:    ^ ,__ 

Half  an  hour  "^fter.  tlie  sound  of  ftany  feet,  and  a*  * 
confused  murmur  of  many  voicerf^low,  fell  on  her  ear. 
,    Wondering  what  it  could  mean,. ishe  rniacd  hproolf  qq 


;M'«^ 


\  ; 


i»»     ,  • 


Tzr^  cyjpji£ss  wreatu.  .       ij,  | 

^^w^d^xz^fie,  in  surprise  and  alarm.  ^     . 

f.^h?^^-"^'  ^'''"•^^"sri^ere  the  only  words  the 
ir^btened'  Depress  could  utter.  ^ 

_V^?*Meix:iturheaveii !  what  has  happened?"  excliimecT 
^f^W^^i"^    »»-    feet,    Tundefin^t^ 
_^  ^  Oh,  Miss  Lizzie !    Oh,  Miss  Lizzie  !"  cried  the  crifl 
O^  IJJiss^Lizzie,  It's  too  drefful  to  tell  f    It  ^ould  W^ 

With  j  wild  cry;  Lizzie  snatched  her  robe  from  Aa   ' 
dinging  hands  tHat  held  it.  and  fled  from  thfroom  do^n 

«hT;  \a  ^^"^^""^^  '''^^  collected  there,  and  ins  de 
sbe^  could,  see  many  of  the  neighbors  ga  heml  9h! 
strove  to  f9n:e  her  way  through  fhe  th  o^g  'ra^p,,^^^ 
servants,  wh6  mechanically  made  way  for  her  oX  *^ 

voiced'?)'  w'^^^'T  '^^'■'^^'^'  '  '«"  y--"  cried*; 
voice  of  Dr.  Wiseman,  "  would  you  kill  her  ?"     '        -^ 

A  score.of  hands  were  extended  to  keep  her  back  hut 
they  were  too  late.    She  had  entered,  a,^  a  sight- nS^^^^ 
h^eyesthatsentthe  blood  curdling  with  horro^^^^ 
heart     A  wild,  terrific  shriek  rang  through  the  house  !I 

•   /    -    • 


;i 


■V- 


r- 


*  i 

n 


ff/"' 


*r^  ■'  .\- 


f 


"v 


70 


^  i 


GIPSY. 


4i. 


\< 


,    / 


CHAPTER  VIIL 

GIPSY.  >     * 

"A  little,  wild-eyed,  tawny  child,  — 

A  fairy  sprite,  untamed  and  wild. 
Like  to  no  one  save  herself, 

■   A  laughing,  mocking,  gipsy  elf.**        "X^ 

EAR  after  year  glides  away,  and  we  wonder 
vaguely  that  they  can  have  passed.  On  our 
way  to  the  grave  we  may  meet  many  troubles, 
but  time  ol^literates  them  all,  and  we  learn 
to  laugh  and  talk  as  merrily  again  as 
thougjh  the  grass  was  not  growing  between  our  face  and 
one  We  could  never  love  enough.    But  such  is  life. 

Ten  years  have  passed  away  at  St.   Mark's  since  the 
close  of  our  last  chapter ;  tea  yean^  dull,  tedious  mo- 
notony.   The  terrible  sight  that  ha^^et  Lizaie  Oran*  r 
more's  eyes  that  morning,  was  the  dead  form  of  her 
young  husband.    He  had  been  riding  along  at  his  usual    ' 
reckless,  headlong  pace,  and  had  been  thrown  from  hia'^ 
>^        horse  and  killed. 

.,-  Under  the   greensward  in  the  village  church-yard^ 

they,  laid   his    world-weary  form  to  rest,   with  onlyT^ 
the  name  inscribed  on  the  cold,  white  marble  to  tell  h^ 
.  ^  had  evgr  existed.    And  no  one  dreamed  of  the  youthful 
^.       romance  that  had  darkened  all  the  life  of  Barry  Oran- 
roore.    Lying  on  the  still  heart,  that  had  once  beat  so 
tum^ultuously,  they  found  the  miniature  of  a  fair  young 
g*    .    face  and  a  long  tress  of  sunny  hain    Wondering  silent- 
P         ly  to  whom  they  belonged,  good-  Mrs.  Gower  laid  them  V 
aside,  little  dreaming  of  what  they  were  one  day  to  dis- 
cover. 


■s„, 


»;^*t,r,    ;,.: 


A' 


-.•VsSi? 


I 

r  I 


-x 


GIPSY, 


t^ 


f«r  -^^  ^^  ^^y  "'"^^  i'npulsivcness,  wept  and  sobbed 
for  a  time  .nconsolably.  But  it  was  no  in  her  shTl  W 
thoughtless  nature  to  grieve  long  for  any  one  ;  and  e^' 

Sonjetiiips,  it  may  be,  ^hen  her  child-her  bov-^ 
would  look  up  in  her  f^  with  the  large  dark^y^^ 
^.mwhohad^bnce  stolen  her  girlish  hl.rt  awayftear! 
for  a  moment  would  weigh  down  her  golden  eyefasC! 

and  her  laugh  again  rang  out  merry  and  clear 

•»!,        .^  '^®  '^°  y^"  *****  passed,  and  no  c'hanee  had 
taken  p,a^  «  Sunset  Hall  save  that  it  Was  far  f^  t^ 
ing^he  quiet  place  it  had  been  formerli 
«f  f.n'^  T/*r  ^°''»o««°  Aurora,  the\little  foundling 

thJ!H -^  ""^"^^  ^^  «°'  »'  «  °o  Vof  hentfo^r 
that  shnll-voicecf  young  lady  never  allowed  herseS^o  be 
pushed  aside  to  make  room  for  any  bnl  Tho«»^e^ 
years  at  least  made  a  change  in  her.         /^  ^  5®*  , 

See  her  now.  as  she  stands  with  her  dog  by  her  side 

mor^^L  ««H  •  *'  .*'^*°  '■^"P^"^  '^»'»»  Lion  thi! 
jn°™'ng.  and  now,  panting  and  breathless,  she^uses 
for  an  instant  to  pre{»are  for  a  fresh  ract^    There  ste' 

dark,  but  bright  and  sparkling  face,  with  sitll,  rr^X; 

&risT:^'r'™r^°'S'^*'-  '^''"^^  «»*o--  of 
snort,  cnsp,  -dark  curis  streanling  in  the  breeze  mv^r^ 

miscmef.  And  with  such  eyefc.  looking  in  her  face  ran 
forgot  every  other  feature  gaZng  i„  thbse  "tonnrweu"  ' 

How  Z"'  HM*^'  '**"""'  '^"'^  «i"ti.la.i„g  wicicedn«L    ' 
How  hey  did  dance,  and  flash,  and  sparlcl^  with  yoa^ 


Jeapcd  from  their  shining  depths  b^^ 


>; 


»;&<.  <i 


/       M 


-  /r 


^    ,r 


■'  M 


■'e 


.   / 


.'^i. 


;<■  ■■' 


1 1  ■/ 


I 


-A* 


7a 


CTPSY. 


spokea  wiM,  fierce  spiri£,nintafnpdand.^riiig,  slumber- 
ing in  her  heart,  quiet  and  unaroused  as  yet,  but  whicbi 
would  one  day  »)urst  forth,  scathing,  blighting  all  on 
'  whom  it  fell.  ,"      ^  ^        v 

And  such  is  Aurora  Gower.     A  wild,  dark,  l^fisb 
changeling,  aot  at  all  pretty,  but  the  most  bewitching 
sprite  witlial,  th^  ever  kept  a  household  incbnfusiQU. 
Qontihpatty  getting  into  scrapes  and  making  mischief, 
and  doing  deeds  that  would  have  be^  unpardonable  in 
any  one  else,  Aurora,  in  some  mysterious  way  of  her 
Own,  escaped  censure,  and  the  most  extravagant  actions 
♦  were  passed  over  with  the  rAaark,  that  it  was,  "just  like 
her—just  what  you  might  expect  from  a  gip^"    Owing 
to  her  dark  skin  and  wild  habits,  "Gipsy  "  was  the  name ' 
by  which  Mrs.  G^wer's/w/ir^^tf  was  universally  known» 
'With  every  one  she  was  a  favorite,, for  though  always 
saucy,  often  impertinent,  and  invariably  provoking,  it 
jjw'as.impossible  to  be  angry  with  a  little  fairy  of  a  crea- 
ture whom   they  cpuld  almost  hold  up  betw^een  their 
fingerand  thumb./ f  '  . 

As  for  the  burly  old  squire,  he  could  as  soon  thinlf 
of  getting  along  without  his  brandy  as  without  Gipsy. 
For  though  they  continually  quarreled,  he  abusing  her 
unmercifully,  and  she  retortinip^  impudently,  yet,  when 
Gipsy  at  the  end  would  flounce  out  in  a  towering  pas- 
'sion,  she  was  sure  a  few  hours  after  to  find  a  peace- 
offering  from  the  old.  man,  in  the  shape  of  a  costly  gift, 
lying  on  her  table.  Kfter  some  coaxing  sh6  would  con- 
sent to  forgive  him,  and  Squire  Erliston  and  his  little 
ward  would  smoke  the  caiumet  of  peace  (figuratively 
speaking);  but,  alas!  for  the  short-lived  truce— tere  an- 
other hour  the  war  of  words  would  be  raging  "  fast  and 
furious  "once  more.  i  / 

Good  Mrs.  Gower  zealously  strove  to  impress  on  the 
wayward  elf*  a  becoming  Aspect  for  the  head  of  the 


f^i 


■J^J; 


GIPSY. 


^  -f 


'Y 


\< 


houschoM  ;  and  sometimes,  in  a  fit  of  penitence,  Aurora 

would  promise   « not  to  give  Guardy  any  more  bile  " 

.  but  being  by  nature  woefully  deficient  in  the  bump  of 

reverence,  the  promise  had  never  been  kept  Vind  at  last 
the  worthy  housekeeper  gave  up  the  task  in  desp^r 
^^  And  so  Aurora  was  left  pretty  much  to  foKw  her 
own  sweet  will,"  and  no  one  need  wonder  that  she 
.-.grew  up  the^ maddest,  merriest  elf  that  ev«r  danced  in 
^  tbe^moonhght.  ^  At  the  age  of  eleven  she  could  ride 
♦  with  the  best  horseman  for  miles  around,  hunt  like  a 
pfracticed  sportsman,  bring  down  a  bird  on  th^  wine 
with  her  unerring  btiUetTand  manage  a  boat  with  the 
.  smartest  fisherman   in  St.   Marks.  fNee41e.work.  dolls 
^""t^lT  ^^^^.^^'^^^^  suitable;  for  her  age,  she  regarded 
.  wrththe  utmost  contempt,  and  withher  curls  streaming 
behind  her,  her  hat  swinging  in  her  hand,  she  might  be 
V  seen  flying  about  the  village  from  morning  tilMi^ht. 
always  running,  for  she  was  too  quick  and  impetuous  to 
walk.    In  the  stormiest  weather,  when  the  winds  were 
i*^  fu         '*!^  '^  roughest,  she  would  leap.into  one  of 
the  fishermen's  bgats,  and  unheeding  stornKand  dancrer 
gaout  withihem,  in  spite  of  commands  and  entreaties 
to  the  contrarjr,  until  danger  and  daring  became  with* 
her  second  nature.     Sut  while  Aurora  has  been  standing  , 
for  her  picture  the  rpsfc  of  the  family  ha^assembled  Jn 
the  breakfast-parlor  61  Mount  Sunset  F^    Languidly 


streMJhed  ot,^^^,  lay  Lizzie  Oranmp!?    ThoL  il 

•years  have  made  no  change  in  her;  just.the  same  rose- 

eaf  complexion,  tlH  same  round,  little  graceful  figure 

Lr"Shf°'^-t"''*'  ^«^«d  gracesas  when  we  saw Ter' 
last.    She  might  rea(%  have  beei^Mcen  for  the'-e 
sister  6f^  her  son,  Lo^is,   who  stJITby 
sketchirig  thfr  view  before  hill. 

l^Iu^^'l  "^Tr  \  *^'^'''"&'  resemblance  between   Louft 
and  his  dead  father ;  the  sao,e  clear,  oliv^  complexion! 


d. 


=^ 


!•  ' 


•: 


V 


>    -*:' 


■■-ux 


'*:*■ 


i#- 


■ -V  * 


QirsY. 


v.. 


ind- 


it 


thje  s^G^  sable  hqck9  and  bol 
•    ®^!^°^"%"''^*"«  f  PPe'"  *»P>  and 

|yas  ca^dflt  op^*«^^E«P^us. 
fmnknepsl^^t  f  ithEfet"r<^Mch1lcQDrdiiii  as  it  J 
.1  traincdJmu^Jb^  pop^il  for.feood  iiV  evil.''         ;'3 
SittiAi^bed  #f  %^e;§ts^&^  w^||ig|fp'i,t 

p'lljilp  lot»kinf^ji^.  no-veryf 
Pap4|yetdaraj3/i 

^J?*^^  a"entibii  wMl  Jllfer  from  it  eVery 

^       ^HatJittlcViretc|L^W|   morning r^Ake 
'<i"ire,a|  last»  throwinip;  down  his  paper  iin^- 

'3^  ^S^    "I  really  can't  say/''riplied%zie,/opening  her  ey^^ 
f     ^      ganguiaiy.    ''I  saw  her  racing  ov%  tl4e  liills  this  morn- 
|n^,^ith  those  dreadful  dogs  o^  hW  I  expect  she  will 
^  be'back  soonT."  '     -:.;  \, .„-..: ^-■■:.i. /":  m  ,..•*-■;,'  ,;    ■  •;.■ 

"  And  we  must  wait  for  her  ladyship  f"  growled  the 
squire.  ^",ril  c^ne  her  within  an  ii§h  of  her  life  if  shb 
dotfsn't  learn  to  behave  herself.    'Spare^  the  child  and 
spoil  the  rQd,^  as  Solomob  says." 
'.;* Here  afce  comes '"exclaimed  Louis,,  looking  upl  < 
"l^peak  of  SatanWd  he'll  appear."  .  !^    -^1 

"iSatao!    Sh^  no  Satap,  I'd  have  you  know,  you 
young  jackanapes  !"  said  the  squire,  fengrily,  for  though 
..always  abasing  the  "little  vixen,"  Aurora,  himself,  he 
;  would  suffer  no  one  else  to  do  it/ 
<  *•  Look,    look  how  she  dashes    along !"  exclaimed 
W"'   with   kindlinjf  eyes,    unheeding   the   rtprooL 
There!  she  has  leaped  her  poM^wer  the  gate,  and 
^  now  she  is  standing  up  in  Ijer  sa«||and— brrfvo  !  -.veil 
^one,  Gipsy!  She  has  actually  sjgji>ver  black  Jupe's 
headffli  a  flying  leap. "        ilH^^T"  ,  -l^ 


7- 


I 


4>l 


..« 


\  •": 


GIPSY, 


"o 


f 


« 


■  >'.  ■  \\ 


.•A 


mite  he  (poke  Gipsy  came  ruining  up  the  lawn  to.      ' 
ward  th.  house,  singing,  ig  a  high^ahfiu'^^ofc^'T^.      ;■. 


fe   -"-^t 


He  had  no  hair  on  the*top  ofhis  head.  ' 
^^^ff^  ^here  the  wool  ought" to  groW. 


^  ^    % 


51 


£.  I^n  h^  '  ''°P.  ,''^''  3^0"  ^i^en  I  .Stop  it;  I  tell  you. 
^.Itll  hang  >-^  up  I"  said  the  squire,  angrily  «>h«S 
do  you  learn  those  vulgar  doggerel^  r  ^^  • 

'  <renl^p!^'*""^'^"^'^^^^^9^°°«°^"'^'°'    Ain'tl* 

\  "  VT*^°"  ^  ^^^®^®  *''  ^^^  scapegrace."  " ' 

oius  ^^^f "' riL?'*"'''''^'^"^^ '^^'^  never  was  age- 
you- know  '•'"'^  ^'°'''  but  'better  late  than  ncvfr/ 

"No^e  of  your  impfrtinence,  miss.     Give  an  account 
of  yourself,  if  you  please.    Where  were  you  tWsTom 
mg?    Answer  me />ia//" 

^*  Nowhere,  sir.'V      "         .     •  •  u    '         ;    . 

whel^'  '^"  "^"^^  ^°"  ""**^  '^°"*''-    Where  U  np, 
Of&i-  to  Doctor  Spider's." 

Doa^^e2  ^"^  ^"1  you  persist  iiT  calling 

"  WhY  f        T- ''''r"'^'  ^   remonstrated  Lizzie.      * 

all  .h«      '  m""',.^**'  because  |?e's  just  like  a  spider,  for 

all  the  world~a}l  legs,"  flipp^nt^y  replied  Gipsy.  ^ 

*M^!1  I»*SS''*^*'  bad  you  there,  monkey  ?    Didn't 

r/-?^!;^    said;^^%q^,re,  in  rising  wrath.  -.         * 

I  ,  5"!^  it;/*aardy,  ^d^haCs  just  the  reason  I  went." 


'      ^1 


.'jiife!^%..;v  ;,, 


%. 


.«• 


.    f 


f      » 


:*^^^^^^:  ..:tr^  ^^ 


I 

If- 

.7 

I? 


i 


-^ 


'/^.i. 


a 


:.r'\i' 


GIPSY. 


it 


You — you — you    disobedient    little    hussy,    you  ! 
vAreij't  you -ashamed  of  yourself  ?''  ..  . 

X        "  Asliamed  ! — what  of  ?    I  haven't  got  the  goilt  in  my- 
&    leg."  *<4 

"Gipsy,  you  dreadful  child^  hush !"  said  Lizzie,  in 
alarm: 
-^—  "Oh,  let  her  go  on  !    She's  just  as  you  taught  her, 
L'^madam.    And  as  to  you.   Miss  Gipsy,   or  Aurora,   or 
*^--^hatever  your  name  is,  let  me  tell  you,  the  gout  is  noth- 
ing to  be  ashamed  of.    It  runs  in  the  most  respectable 
^milies,  miss."  - 

\  '  ;  "  l-ord,  Guardy  !    What  a  pity  I  can't  have  it,  too,, 
' .  and  help  to  keep  up  the  respectability  of  thefamily !"   / 
{;  ,       Louis  turned  to  the  wiritlow,  and  struggled  violently 
with  a  laugh,   which  he  endeavored  to  change  into  a 
;\  cough,  and  the  laugh  and  cough  meeting,  produced,  a 
^  ^dhoking  sensation.    This  sent  Gipsy  to  his  aid,   who, 
\^  after  administering  sundry  thumps  on  his  back  with  her 
little  closed  fists,  restored  him  to  composure,  and  ^he 
squire  returned  to  the  charge.  % 

"And  now,  to- 'return  to  our  mutton,'  a6  Solomon 
says;,  or — hol4  on  a  minute— was  it  S<^moA  who  said 
■^  that.r  \  ^'\'i^'  :  >.^^Y■'■■  ^;■■■'■■■■CJ•,«^■:■:■;/':  -„ 

^  The  squire  paused,  and  placed  his  finger  reflectively  on 
the  point  of  his  nose,  in  deep  thought ;  but  being  unable 
to  decide;  he  looked  up,  and  went  on  :  .   j 

'*  Yes,  miss,  as  I  was  saying,  what  toOk  you  over  to 
"  Deep  Dale  so  early  this  morning  ?    Tejl  me  that." 
"  Well,  if  I  must,  I  must;  I  s'pose— -Sb' here  goes." 
"  Hallo,  Gipsy  !"  interrupted  Loiiia    "  Take  care — 
you're  making  poetry."  >      /        \ 

"  Nq,  sir  I  iNSCorn  the  accusation  !"  sa^d  Gipsy,  draw^ 
ing her|elf  up.  "But,  Guardy»  since  1  jnust  tell  you,  I 
went  over  to  see — ahem  ! — ^Archie  I"     ^      y 


r^-n- 


I  /'■ 


■■^  ■ 


w 


.** 


i-i>  ■" 


* 

'    »    '     . 

■V 

it 

uardy.    «  Humph!  humph  ! 


"You  did! 
humph !" 

"Don't^ta/e  it  so  much\o  heart,  Ouardy.  No  use 
gneving-.  specially  as  the  Wief  might  settle  in  your 
poor  afflicted  leg— limb,  I  mea\"  ■      ■ 

^    "AndraayIask,younglady\what  you  could  pos- 
sibly  want  with  him  ?"  said  the  sqOire,  sternly 

1 2^'  ^^^J  ""'"^^  '     "^'^  "^y  bea\„you:know." 
Your  beau  !-j.wr  beau  i-your\BEAu  !    My  con 
science!"  \  -^ 

"  Yes,  sir,  w^'re  engaged." 

^J^Z-'^\'P^'  Jupiter,'  as  Solomon  says.     Pmy, 
^      madam  (for  such  I  presume  you  consider  yourself),  when 
will  you  be  twelve  years  old?"  '*-  \ 

"Oh,  as  soon  as  I  canlh  I  don't  want  to  V  an  old 
maid.  A   ^ 

A    *.*  ^°.  .1'  ^^®'"^'  y°"  conf oun^d  little  Wih-o'-th^isp 
And  will  you   be  good  enough  to  inform  u^  hV  ti 
precious  engagement  c^me  about  ?"  said  the  sauirci  wf 
•  a  savage  frown.  ■■■  /^       ^ 

"  With  pleasure,  sir.    You  see,  we  went  out  to  gather 
grapes  in  the  wood  one  day,  .and  we  had  a^splendifero^s 
ime   And  says  I,  '  Archie,  ain't  thistoite  ?'^hd  says  Je 
Yes -and  ^ys  I, '  Wouldn't  it  be  nice  if  We'd  get  mar- 

lil!  Jr^^Kv^^'^'  'Yes'-and  says  I, '^,7/ you  have 
me,  though  ?  —and  says  he,  «  Yes'-^and  says  I-—" 

«v"^^''  ^®  *  Predous  pair  of  fools?'  and- 
Yes,    ^Interrupt^  the  squire,  mimicking  ^er. 
you  re  a  nice  galWou're  a  pretty  yoang  lady  !" 
•1,      "Yes,  ain^t  I,  liow?    You  and  I  are  of  on 
there,  exactly.    Ain't  you  proud  of  me  ?" 

''^roud  of  you,  you  barefaced  little  wretch  !    I'd  lik« 
to  tMkt  your  neck  for  you  '"thundered  the  squire. 

fetter    not,    Guardy;  you'd    be    hung   for    man^ 
3ta^f  ypu  didi  ynu  know." 


I 


11 


i 


^. 


\n 


one  opfinion 


\'M 


J^ 


;''^-\ 


^^■- 


"v.- 


-m\ 


K  ' 


»»f 


?.- 


You  don't  call  yourself  a  mart,  IliORC  !"  said  toiHs. 

P      "Well,  if  I  don't,  I'm  a  girl— which  is;  a  thousand 

Ftimcs  nicer.    And  speaking  of  girls,  reminds  me  that 

Miss  Ha^ar's  ^0^0^01^^  teauUfuiestl^^^^. 

girl  you  eVer  set  yotir*eyes  on.   "       *^ 

«  Miss  Hagar  ?"  they  all  exclaimed  in  surprise.  -      .^ 

«<<Ye*,  to  be  sure.     Law  !  you  needn't  look  so  aston 

ished;  this  is  a  free  country.    And  whf  can't    Miss 

Hagar  have  a  little  girl,  if  she  wantsto,  as  well  n* any- 

body  else,  I'd  like  to  know?"  exclaimed  Gipsy,  rathef 

indignantly.  \       ;    >  •'.        >         .         , 

"To  b<!  sur«i,"  said  touis,  who  took  the. same  view  of 

^fhtf  case  as  Gipsy^      '       .  .  *^,  • 

I  "  Where  did  she^et  it  ?— whose  Httle girl  is  it»  in- 
quired Liiwie,  slightly  roused  frpm  hcrj|iguor  by  th(^ 

"%*  "Don't  know, I'm  sure  ;  nobody  don't  She-  was  off 
sAfewhere  poking  round  all  day  yesterday,  and  came 
home  at  night  with  this  little  girl.  Oh,  Louis,  she's  such 

a  d(^r  little  th%  r 

"Is  sfie ?*^ sail  Louis,  a^ntly. 


■sfe 


^^.* 


es,^deed-4^#th  *  faicc  like  double-refined  moon- 


iiiifeng,  ^low  haS,  and  blue  eyes,  and  pink 


dreas,  and -cheeks  to  matqh.  She's  twice  as  pretty  as 
Mink^|An<T  Miss  gagar's  ^ng  to  keep  her,  and  teach 
ber  \S^iottxxnts^%^<f^i  -  V  ^  ..„ 
^ftl  wbiider  D*.  W^ifefin  anow8li»Mi4»a«a'  *o  °" 
the  house  with  Uttlcgi^*s,'*'said  Li^  ^ 

"  0%  SpicMJL^t  nothing  to'  do  with  it.  MiSs  Hagar 
has  money  of iprofn.  and  can  keep  her  if  she  likek 
Pity  if  Ihe'd  S?e  tl  ask  permission  of  that 'thing  of 
legs  and  ai'ms,^Terything  she  wants  to  do."  /  - 

"Gipsy,  my  dear,  you  really  must  not  speak  so  of 
.  w:c«»i«.n  .  U's  nnsitivelv  shbckinir."  said  the  .highly- 


nr  Wiseman ;  it's  positively  shocking,"  saidthejiighly. 
scandalized  Mrs.  Oranmore^ 


>'. 


s^ijta 


7^1.' 


y-.  m 

.  '  ^-  A 

'    1 

:a    .W:  : 

■:  V>  1 

1       .     r      .     ,' 

v4^' '' 


G/psr. 


itf 


ti'oiiis. 

9usand 
ie  that 

St 


astoif 
t    Miss  -  * 
astany- 

riathei' 

•        f    \ 
trie w  of       I 

■I     :. 

it?»*  inV 
by  thi^ 

was  Qff 
d  came 
e's  such 


moon- 


! 

nd  pink 
retty  as 
ad  teach 

ir  to  fill 

iS  Hagaf 
le  like^. 
thing  of. 

sak  so  of 
jjiighly- 


**  Well,  I  don't  care ;  he  is  a,  *  thing  of  leg*  and  arms.* 
Ajhere,  now !" 

"What's  the  little  girl's  name,  Gipsy?"  inquired 
Louis. 

*'^if/«/tf— isn't  it  pretty?  And  she— oh,  she's  a  dar- 
ling, and  no  mistake.  Wouldn't  I  marry  her  if  I  was  a 
man— -maybe  I  wouldn't."  , 

«  What's  her  other  name  ?" 

"  Got  none— ^  least  she  said  so  ;  and,  as  I  didn>  like 
to  tell  her  she  told  a  story,  I  asked  Miss  Hagar,  and  j>i< 
told  me  to  mind  my  own  business  ;  yes,  she  actually  did. 
Nobody  minds  how  they  talk  to  me.  People  haven't  a 
bit  of  respect  for  me ;  and  I  have  to  put  up  with  sass 
from  every  onel  I  won't  stand  it  much  longer,  either. 
Th^e!" 

^,      ^No,  I  wouldn't  advise  you  to,"  said  Louis.    "  Better 
^iiy  down  ;  no  use  in  standing  it." 

"Wiseman's  a  fool  if  he  lets  that  crazy  tramp,  his 
sister,  support  beggars-  in  his  house,"  exclaimed  the 
iquire,  in  a  threatening  tone.   "  Lunatics  like  her  should 
o|  be  allowed  to  go  at  large.    He  has  no  business  to 
periiiit.it/' ■■■■•..■.■.,- :,■■  ■ ;  J.   \.    - r  '£,;■  ■■■-   .^ 

V       "I'd  like  to  see  him  trying  to istop  it,"  said  Oipsy. 
J:"  I'd  be  in  his  wool." 

" Your  said  the  squire,    contetnptu|IMy.     " What 
could  a  little  Tom  Thumb  in  petticoat^  y»you,  do  ?" 
'^Look  here,  now,  Guardy,  don't  cal^lp&y  names. 
When  you  speak  of  Tom  Thumb,  you  know,  it's  getting 
personal.    What  cou Id  I  do  ?    Why^  I'd  set  his  house  on 
^^^^re  some  night  about  his  ears,  or  some  day,  when  out 
/footing,  a  bullet  might  strike  him  accidentally  on  pur- 
pose.   It  takes  me  to  defend  injured  innocence,"  said 
Gipsy,  getting  up,  and  squariag-off  in  an  attitude  of  de- 
fiance.  as  she  exclaimed !  "Come  op,  old  Wiseman,  I'm 


'% 


i 


*i  .1 


4^. 


ready  for  you !" 


.tt 


So 


.7f .. 


GIPSY. 


YoiiT*"^!'  ' ''***''^"°'^  ^''*'  *^  associate  xvith  beggars 
You  must  never  go  to  Deep  Dale  again.     I  can't  conn 

UmTei?  V  P'-^^-^-^-     "  ^-  ci^oote  to  make  a  oo,  o" 
lunjsdf,  u  s  no  reasdn  why  I  sliould  do  so  too." 

«i.v  J^°"f  u    ""^  '^'''■''*'  sir-espeoially  as  nature  has 
saved  you  that  trouble."  «iurc  nas 

-    -   4«    «v 


*r: 


^^u  audacious  little  der«bn,  you !  whit  do  you 

I.„M^"^  '  '^■'''  ""'S^*  yo".  Guardy.    But  how  can  I 
N  hold  my  tongue  and  eat  ?" 

iflJ,^!?*"  fr'*^"''.'""'"'''"*'"  «»''•  'he  edge  off 
Wmtw      *         '°°  ^l«"-ft"  growled  the  old  man  to 

^  -   Mrs.  Gower,  fat  and  good-natured  *.  ever,  entered  at 

h»  momenta  and  as  they  assembled  round  'hi  tab" 

the  squ,re-who,  though  he  generally  got  the  worst  o^ 

the  argument,  would  never  let  Gi/sy*' rest-a^u  re 

'  sumed  the  subject.  fV   •<=»    again  re- 

te.ta"'ltj!!^'"^   yoi-re  not  to  go  to  Deep  Dafe- 
agajn ,  I  forbid  you— positively  forbid  you." 

1-or  !  Guardy,  you  don't  say  so '"  ^   ...--- 

"Oon't  be  disrespectful,  mini.  If  I'm  your  Buardian 
you  ^11  obey  m.    You  heard  me  say  s/befc^S, 

„  .  "Wiy.  yes,  I  think  so  ;  but;  theU,  you  say  so  mativ^ 
tuugs.  a  body  can-t  be  expected  to  r^memb^f  ^em  aJf 
i  ou  mm,  be  ulking.  you  know  ;  and  you  mjht  M  weU 
be  Mying  that  as  anything  else."  f     ™       '^™ 

_"  But  I  am  determined  you  shall  obev  me  this  time. 


ngttin  r  thundered  the  squire. 


-'Si- 


.;    ..     K 


1 1' 


i  beggars, 
ao't  coun- 
5  a  fool  of  ^; 

Uure  has 

t  do  you 

time  for 

•weir;  and 

>w  can  I 

edge  off 
man  to 

itered  at 
le  tabl^ 
vorst  of 
jain  re- 

jp  Dale^ 


G/J*sy: 


I*-  i 


JN 


a« 


--^fou^ou-^„4^:"'«'  y«"w  abomination  yo..T 

gouty-iegged-^"  '"S""— 7°"— jou— you 

"  T^ere !  there  !  that'll  h„  ■•  i.      ...  ^ 

^Wre,  while  a  unive^al  shout' o,'T"'5L'«"™P««d  «he 

the  table  at  the  ludicr™!*!^'      •"'?'"*'■  '^«"  «»'nd? 
-.imicked  Ms  b.u:Sglra''°*«f^''e«t.Iei«,p 

«y  a  word  about  it  •  but  m!„H  •,  "*•  "'*'»  f  don't 

Wiseman-,  you.,  lue t  S'2:^"»-"«  '<> «°  «°  Dr. 

«M  Gipj;*  witriier'sw^U'lr  '"  r'""  ""•'7 
plate  to  the  old  man,  whoTc«L  „  ^  " . ""  P"'"'  "■« 
bQwie-knives  at  the  ;JoJ  W*"*  ""^  ""'  *W5e",  bu, 


•■  V    * 


■  5     *.'■! 


J..^  _._^. _._._.. 


lardian, 
s,  didn't 

>  many 
em  all. 
is  well 

s  time. 

>  there 


''{■ 


*6'*- 


EKf!.;  •  • 


•'  /■^x" 


-  •       i. 


,-•' 

■  J:- 

■  ■'  K ''     •  "..,'■  ■  -  '. 

i 

"  *  ■  ■  X-\ 

-''    .M.:     ;'    ;■                      ,     -■■             ■       " 

-       .  .1 

,.  'l"-fei. 

•   4 

M: 

-■   .     ,         '•     .                                 J, 

-.    "'    '■     /.■'  —  ■  - 

. 

I;^ 

''■[■ 

,.'.■'-  ,  '■:;. ,  ,  V'  ':- 

■  .      ^-         ■-■■•-■ 

■    \.-    ''  '•'\-'  '■"■' 

/ 

~--  ft 

.■■    *  / 

^ 

I,       _■••     ■       ■  Ji:-.                      '■            «      .■ 

\ 

\    "  ■  ■■ 

M 

-   *               A    STORM, 

•, 

■'  '■? 

^ 

.             "      ■     -■      ■     ft'       "     ■-                                              "      ,      .                              ■-■^ 

CHAPTER  I JL 

.-','■■                        •  ■          '   •■     •    '         < 

'■'■  • .  ■,    .      .■  '■» 
■  ■ 

* 

A  STORM  kx  MOUNT   SUNSET  HALL.  ' . 

1          -                               '^v. 

-.  .  ■,  » 

-/■  *'^ 

"At  this  SirTCniiht  grew  high  in  wTa|lfc  'n^ 

• 

im 


'  And  lifting  hands  and  e^-es  up  bothj^. 
Three  times  he  .smote  his  stomach  stibut,  <,'':.■ 

From  whence,  atjlenkgtb,  fierce  words  broljce  out."       .   ' 

-*        *  t  HUDIBKAS... 


OTTY  !  tbtty  !   JL  -say;  Totty,  where  are  you  ? 
I  declare  to  streech,  I  never  saw  such,  a 
provoking-w  jdarkey   in  my   life.      Nobody 
never  can  find   her   Ivhen    the's  wante^t ! 
•  '  •      ,^        Totty  ITott^f  hallo,  Totty!    I  wan^^  you  » 
dreadfu!ly>  i^'^  ^^  matter  o^  life  and  de^fi  1    If  that  girl  ' 
doesn't  pay  morfe  attention  to  me,  ril-^ril  discharge  her ; 
ItiHlly  so  help  me  3immy  Johnstoii !   Totty  1  Tjotty-y^  !*' 
So  called  and  shouted  GipSy,  as' she  flew  in  a^  out,.and|^ 
up  and  doSvn  stairs,  banging  doors  after  her  with  a  noise' 
'  that  made.the  old  house  hng,  and  scplding  at  the  t'       ^ 
,^her  voice  all  the  time.  > 

"  Laws  !  1(4 iss  Roarer,  here  I  iis,"  said  Totty,  huYigfi 
as  fast  £^  possible  into  ttie"  presence  of' the  lit^e 
•  to' g^t  rm  of  the  noise.  .  " 

'  "Oh,M;'s  a  wonder  you  came,!  Ls'pose  yoii'M  rather 
be  loiungihg  down  in  tne  kitchen  than  'tendin&sto  your 
mistifMs.  How  dare  you  gp.away,  when  yoig  d^'t  luiow 
wjnitl^inute;,  I  may  want  ybdi    Htey  ?" 

'Opd  Lor !  I^iss  Roarer,  I  6nly  went  down  to  de 
itchen't^.get  my  breakfsis'  'loiig  «P  th^jres':  How^you 
•^pec  I's  g^ine  to  live  'thiout  eatin'?  ^You  all^rs  dtfefcall 
jes' the  contrariest  time^  allers — -" 

"  ^old  jrour  ton^u^ !"  exclaimed  her  impej^pus  little 
« .' '   f        ■'  ♦        -'^-     '^  tP»    '    M 

■  .   ■■  ^V'. .••■•.>  ■■"■     .  ''-i 


irago, 


-# 


^v'-= 


•t- 


9-^^^Mt 


A  ■^STOXM. 


SI 


•«^ 


/■ 


mistress;  "don't  give  me  any  <Jf  your ir«i^<rrw«»/Jf here, 
i     -   curl  my  hair,  and  put  on  my  pifetty  purple  riding-hab.t, 
and  make  me  ju§t  as* pretty  a^  ever  you  can.    Hurry   . 

/' Make  you  pretty,  indeed  !•' muttered  the  indignant 
Totty ;  "'deed,  when.de  Lord  couldn't  do  it^  '^int  very 
\       likely,  I  can.     Come  'long  and  keep  stilj,  two  or  free    /  ' 

minutes,  if  you  <^n.    I  neVer  knew  such  a  res'lesS  littte  / ' 
.■     .  •  ■  critter  in  all  my  life."  .  ■       >'  I-.;,-  /    ',  i-f.'  ;,%.  ■ ';.'':}'     ' 
'  „  „       While  Gipsy  was  standing  as  qujetly  as  her  fidgety^^ 
>      nature  would  allow,  to  have'her  hair  curled,  Mrs.  Gower  - 
:....-^ntered.  ■/'.'' 

.  « Well,  'Rora,  my  dear,  wh^re  are  you  going  thi« 

, "  morhing,  that  you  are  dressing  in  your  best  ?"  said  Mrs. 
V      j^^Gower,  glancing  .at  the  gay  purple  riding-habit— for 
driBss  was  a  thing  Gipsy  sfeldoni  troubled  herself  about. 
•' Why,  aunt^,  where  «f/<>»A/ 1  be  going*  over  to  $pi. 
der's,:of  course."  *  ^'^4  '  '.- 

^     4^     '^Oh,  Gipsy,  my  dear,  pray  don*  think  of  such  a 
^^  thing  !"  exclaimed  the  good  woman,  iti  a  tone  of  alarm.** 
"Yourguardiaii  will  be  dreadfully  angry."  ;     '       '    «ik 

«  Lor !  aunty,  I  know^that ;  there  wouldn't  be  any  furtfe* 
,        in  it  if  he  v/asn't,"  replied  the  elf.  '  . 

"  Oh,  Aurora,  cliild  !  you  don't  know  what  you're  do- 
ing.. Consider  all  he  ha?  done  for  you,  diid  hdw  ungrate- 
ful it  is  of  you  to  disoboghim  in  this  manner  Now,  h? 
has  set  his  h^art  oh  keeijmg  you  from  Deep  Dale  (you 
know  he  never  liked  the  doct<*  nor  his  family),  and  he 
.^  will  be  terribly,  frightfully  angry  if  heflnds  you  have  dis- 
obeyed  him.  Ride  over  the  hiUs,  go  out  sailing  or  shoot, 
.^    ijg,  but  do  not  go  there;'^  .  *       *  . 

*l     \  Gipsy,  who  had  been  yawning  fearfully  ^during  this  *  '*^ 
address,  now  ^jerked  hersetf  away  from  Totty,  and  re-'    ' 
plied,  impatiently :  " 

_  "  Well,  Ut  Um  get  frightfully  ikngiy;  Vlk.^  'frifht- 


*4r 


t\\ 


■M 


ixv. 


■t «, 


tir- 


•>^-H 


A, 


■:i'- 


■  .  if  ■ 


1. 


Sr 


b. 


84 


A    STORM, 


-.=*%; 


>t  *r/- 


^> 


fuily  angry  V  too,' and  so  there  will  be  a  pair  of  us; 
Do  you  s'pose  lUmisB  seein^g  that  dear,  sweet,  little  girl 
again,  just  because  Guardy  will  stamp,  and  fume,  and 
roar,  and  scare  all  mankind  into  fits  ?  Not  I,  indeed. 
Let  him  come  on,  who's  afraid^."  and  Gipsy  threw  her- 
self into  a:\  stage  attitude,  and  shouted  the  words  in  a 
voice  that  was  quite  imposing,  coming  as  it  did  from  so 
small  a  body. 

"Oh,  Gipsy,   child!  Consider,"   again    began  Mrs. 
Gowcr. 

_  «Oh,  aunty,  dear !  I  won't  consider,  never  did ;  don't 
agree  with  my  constitution,  no  how  you  can  fix  it. 
Archie  told  me  ontf  day  when  I  was  doing  something  he 
considered  a  crazy  trick,  to  '  consider.'  Well,  for  his 
sake,  1  tried  to,  and  before  ten  minutes,  aunty,  I  felt 
symptoms  of  falling  into  a  decline.     There  now !" 

"Oh,   my  dear!   my    dear!   you  are   incorrigible," 
sighed  Mrs.  Gower;  "but  what  w<>uld  you  do  if  your 
guardian  sbnie  day  turned  you  out  of  doors  ?    You  have 
no  claim  on  him,  and  he  might  do  it,  yoii  know,  in  a  fit: 
,  of  anS^er." 

**If  >he  did  "—exclaimed    Gips^,  springing  up  with' 
dashing  eyes.  . 

"Well,  and  if  he  did,  what  would  you  do?"    , 
<*  Why,  I'd  defy  hjim  to  his  face,  and  then  I'd  run  oflf, 
and  go  to  sea,  and-  make  my  fortune,  and  come  back,  and 
tnarry  you— no,  i  couldn't  do  tharjbtft  I'd  marry  Archie. 
Lor !  I'd  get  along  splendidly."  ■        .  ° '   .  , 

"  ph,  Gipsy  !  Gipsy  !  rightly  named  Gipsy  !  how  lit*i 
tie  you  know  what  it  is  to  be  friendlesjs  in  the-world^ 
yqu  poor  little  fairy  ydu  !'    Now,  child,  be  quiet,  and 
talk'sen^bly  tp  me  for  a  few  minutes." 
•    *  "Oh,  bother,  aunty  !  I  can't  be  quiet ;  and  as  to, talk- 
ing sensibly,  why  I  rather  think  I  am  doing  that  just  , 
now.    There,  now^ndw  Wo,  please,  bottleltip  that  lectui|| 


^    «^| 


1 


'-r-^^ 


*-, 


J     'l 


A    STORM, 


A 


■:^  ' 


you've  got  fdr  me,  ind  it'll  keep;  for  I'm"  off  i"    And 
dartrng  past  them,  she  ran  down  stairs,  through  tlie  lone 
hall,  and  was  flying  toward  the  stables  in  a  twinkling 
On  her  way  she  met  our  old  friend,  Jupiter 
>  "  Hallo  Jupe !    Oh,  there  you  are  !    Go  and  saddle 

Mignonne  mediately.    1  want  him  ;  quiqk,  now  »" 
^    "Why,  Miss  Roarer,  honey,  I'se  sorry  f or  ter  diser- " 
bilge  yer,  chile,  but  ole  mas'r  he  fole  me  not  to  let  yer 
get^Minnin  to-day,"  said  Jupiter,  looking  rathej  untsasily 
^  at  the  dark,  wild,  little  face,  and  large,  lustrous  eyes,  ii 
which  a  storm  was  fast  brewing.  " 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  he^ld  youT  not  to  let  ni^;W^ 
my  pony  ?  she  said,  or  ratli^r  Wssed„thr6ugh  her  tight- ' 
ly -clenched  teeth.  -  • 

«  Jes*  so.  Miss  fto  rer;  he  tell  me  so  not  ten  minutes 
ago.  '  '    •       -  ' 

"Now,  Jupiter,  look  here;  you  feo  right  off  and  sad- 
h!lrr  ^"""""^^"V"^  '''^k^  ^^  "^"^^  for  you.:    D'ye 
^^  "Miss  Roarer,  I'teft^^rlt  I  dasse^.  M^s-i^U  Imlf'^ 

"And  I'll  wholf  kill  |©u  if  you'  don't;"  said  Oiiy. 
.  with  a  wild  flash  of  her  black  eyes,  as  she^prang  lighfiy 
.on  a  high  stone  bench.  a|>a  raised  Jier  rid^ng^whib  over 
I  the  head  of  the  trembl*^  darkey.;  "  i^,  sir ;  ^o  rlglrt 
off  and  do  as  I  tell  ydu  V^     o  ^  'j,-  .       -         ■ 

*    ,.■  "  Laws  !  rcaift— 'deed  chile  !    \  can't-^'      " 

\  Whack  !  wfcack  !  wha<^.| !  with  noepntle  hand  "went 
«ri/P  '**"^°^*  his  shoulders,  interrupting rhi^apoloiry  ' 
There,  you  black  rascal  !  will  you  d»re  to  dis6bey 
your  niistrpss  again  .'""'Whack,  .'whack!  whaik  •  "If  you 
don  t  bring  Mignoijne  out  this  minute,  I'll  shoot  you 
dead  as  a  mackei'el !  There;  does  th^t  ar^ment  "over- 
come your  scruples  ?" .  whack  !  whack  !  whaqli  / 

With  something  betwoe*  a  yell  and  a  'ho,^l,  poor 


V 

"'1 

,^1fe.«i 

< 

if 

h 

y 


» > 


•i: 


J     .'  <' 


/. 


i 


V 


^ 


"<    JrOA 


\  ^;«"P™»8back,.i,d co^mJca rubbing hisafflictic^ 
^  „\;«^;^y-  BO?;  4manded  Gipsy,  raising  Ber  „hip 

limh?V^'^'^    Who  ever  did  see  such  a  'bolical  mtle  ^ 
iimbisdatar.     Ole  lAa^V  mi  i,:ii -.  '  *  ,      "Y"^^^."}tie 

whimpered  poor  J^D^r"  h.       T'  ^  ^^^''^  he  wiH,"  , 

the  saddle  and  ^.hered  u^tt'^^'  "  f?  »P™S  i"'"-' 
•    the  future  never^,^^!.  h""^,:       "'"^  '•     *"«  °''"*  for 
body  says     mTw^JI     ^'''^^y  "'-  »»  "atter  what  any- 
soZZl.Zt^^'yZt^!'  outforapiseoi-bi, 

»ai7itdTfttIe't1trwtdtT  ''^     but  what  the 

whi,„peri„g  like  r::Hi;^;'''j°„'X°--»<'«.>e^^^^^^ 

,^  Scyl)a  of  his  fi,aster>  wrath  a^d  .h«  rA      ,!i""°  "" 

.ouS"^f  r;;:^  ^!:^-8^''^^>f°'^'  -iojGipsy.  • 

sight  tiii  %Z  t  rand^  n  Ilc°e"Lr  h'eZ  '^'^' 

-^ofr- ^t-^JSJ":!  t^-^^  £'«  vx 

G.psy  went  galloping  down  the  road  ii^a^a^S        !  •"  / 

^^^h      .'"  *°"  ''**^"«  departure. of  Giosv   .h«       - 
worm  burst  upon  them  in  fuM  funr     the  „iiwi  k'^'  >  5- 

fiercely  through  th^rc,,  the  ^i^,,^;:;:^^^ 


HI 


^ 


'T', 


i ;  f'   ,<'. 


^' 

,  '. 

*     ■■■ 

'  -,. 

♦^" 

■■^% 

.    " 

.,-■ 

■"^              ■  ■  • 

• 

* 

'.-'  ■ ' 

..% 

i-':^ 

1 

.,:'■' 

*' 

/ 

,- 

/ 1 


^^» 


Vf 


%- 


lightning  flashed  in  on*»  ^^*- '  ^   ^\  -    v 

flame., he, hunger o^sheZllI':::? "«=«?' blae*elecrric  ■ 
."ndearth  seeped  re„^i::^J:j°"  P^'^'"  J'^-eO 

■ioge.t!T:2^,~:/'"^^^^^^ 

were  closed  fast,  a^d  th"  servknf      ^"""^  *"''  "''"«<"'. 

ofaU  Missus  Scour  said.    I  v^.     She  «/««^  go,  ^pite 

^tracted.     I  ain't  na  fliace  ni^L  ^     '°  ^"^^  °"«  <^Iar 
capers.     Dar  I"  W      '''^^^  °°'*  day  'long  o'  I,er 

_  ."Won'twecotchitwC^r......:: 


said  acu„„i^.,~'^t„e  c^;,"  ""^  «"<»"•"  sh.'sgoae" 
Gipsy  had  a4„TmX"^:^f,''td.;i."'«<'arkey,|ho'; 
,  chuckle, :  "good  Lor  -  Jes'  s«  ^t  """'.«>™«hingfilce . 
Wn-  round-,  an'  kickin'  -i^  "*''»  »"«"'»■  au' 
Wshiu'  de  res'  ob  de  t  "itur"  f§f  T'  "'KS^"'  «■'• 
demly  overcome  by, he  Sr^'  ^''^'''"  And  evi- 
conjured  up.  Bob  i;/:rk  ".h  t^wS  Z't  '""^^J""* 

/Gotrtseei^dtX^rr-  "'r''  »'<'   «- 
•q-re  was  peacefully  snorinl  in    k'^"''"'   "'««   '"o 

f»W  "Wse.and  bus,le  of  ,h,ir  .  . 

.;    ./f  ■ )  .;,•':  ■&...■    .;:  > ;  "      """."fa'lnf  short  won. 


A^n 


•  x-> 


'Mi- 


=^=87 


.\ 


i'" 


as 


.  "^ 


-r^r,-" 


z-kJ 


STORM. 

Itate  of  §lfalr&jiis  first  in 


■l!«J, 


he  woke  up,  and  seein 

quiry  was  for  Gipsy.  -^ 

"  Where's  that  little  i&ominatidnrn6w7*'  lie  4brijptly« 
^eftianded,  in  a  tone  th^ti denoted  his  t<?mper  was  not  irii- 
proved  by  the  sudden  brdakingr  up  oC  Ws  nap 

All  were  silent.     Mrs.  Gow<sr  tfar^u^  |bar,  ami  the 
others  through  ignorance.     ;  r 

^  Where  is  she  ?  where  is  sfie,  I  say  r  thiiiidfer^  th« 
squire.    "Doesn't  sotaebodyktid^m^^      ^  / 

"  Most  likely  up  stairs  s?^mcwhereKi 
Tgoandsee?'*     '       ^  "* 


>;•*.. 


|iaid  Louis.  "Shall, 


" No,  you'Sha'uY 'go  an<|ise^»  it's  the  duty. of  the 
women  there  to  look  after  to|r»  but  they  don't  do  it  She 
might  be  lost,  or  taurdered,  or  killed,  fifty  times  a  day 
for  all  they  care.  '  Who  trustelh  in  the  ungodly  shall 
pe  deceived,'  as  Solomon  says.     Ring  that  bell.*??    - 

Louis  obeyed  ;  and  in  a  few  minutes  Totty,  iuaking 
with  terror,  made  her  appearance.  ■. 

^  "Where's     your    young    mistress?    Where's     Miss 
Gipsy,  eh  ?"  demanded  the  squire,  in  an  awful  voice. 
'VDeed,  mas'r,.  she's  rode  off.     I  couldn't  stoo  hci 

nobow,  'deed "  .  ■  \- \S  /      ^   * 

^'Rodc  off  !"  shouted  the  squii#|ii1fb^tetfiir 
gouty  leg,  he  sprang  to  his  feet ;  "  rodeoff  in  this  storm  ? 
Villains  !  wretches !  demons  !  I'll  murder  every  one  of 
you  !  Out  in  this  storm  !  Good  Lord !  Clear  out 
every  living  soul  of  you,  and  if  one  of  you. return  with' 
out  her,  ril—ril  blow  his  brains  out !"  roared  the  old 
man,  purple  with  rage. 

"Why,  grandfather,"  said  Louis,  while  the  rest 
cowered  with  fear,  "it  is  not  likely  Gipsy  is  out  exposed 
to  the  storm.  There  are  many  places  df  shelter  well- 
known  to  her  among  the  hills,  and  there  she  will  stay 
until  this  hurricane  is  over.    It  would  be  impossible  for 


■-'■"*r-v 


■x-^-r 


<;        ^M 


>,■■'  r' 


;\v 


A. 


.* ;  \ 


r:' 


■  t  ■ 


•!>** 


■ 

^^    % 

■ 

i  • 

i 

ft. 

s 

'  1  l(< 

ti 
h 

* 

If 

» 

u  — 

G 

::* 

, 

^     STORM, 


1 
i 


ber"^Herrr  ''^Tlf 't  u  *^  '^"^'«'  "they  ™«st  find 
her !     Here,  Jupe,  Jake,  Bob,  and  the  rest  of  you  mount 

andoff  in  search  ot  Miss  Aurora  over  the  hm^G  aj 

the  pen!  of  your  Ijfe,  return  without  her.     Be  off .  L 

vanish  !  :jnd  mind  ye,  be  sure  to  bring  her  homa"  *  ^ 

Law  !  mas'r,  Miss  Roarer  ain't  over  de  hills     She's 

gone  overto  Deep  Dale,"  said  Totty-      °*'^"®-    ?^<^8 

-  .^  "^T  ^  "**^'^^"^d  the  sqiiire,  pausing  in  his  ra«6. 
aghast,  thunder-struck  at  the  news.  '    ^ 

'«  y ^^**''^?'^^  fc«o ws,  mas'r,  I  couldn't  stop  her  '*^ 
Vou-^you-T-you-~diabolical  imp  you  f"  roared  th* 
old^an,  seizing  his.crutch,  and  frurling  it  at  herlead 

JnTw?  'V-  "u^*^^"'^"'  t^»«iitae  wretch  !  won't 
^  pay  her  for.this,  when  I  get  hdld  ^Tler !  the--the  dL 
qbedjent,  ungrateful,  undutiful  hussy  !    I'll   cane   he^ 

u    T     :,      ^^^'P  ^*'"  ^"^''^  house  day  abd  night  '    I'il^- 
oh    Lord,  my  leg,"  he  exclaimed,  with  a  gLn    as  he 
,^1  back,  powerless,  between  rage  and  de^a^^'in  hS 

fanher  nto  the  corner  to  escape  his  notice,  while  Louis 

bcnt^still  lower  ovpr  his  dmwing  to  hide  a  smile  th^t 

^  Mjas  breaking  over  his  face.       •       \  i    ^^  '*^*, 

ih.  Ho""''  ™?'"«»^^  fresh  burst  of  rain  and  wind  shook 
the  doors  and  windows  of  the  old  house,  and  with  it  the 
squire's  rage  broke  out  afresh.  "a  witmt  the 

to  ^  n^^^  '  i^^  °^  ^°"*''  *"^  '«"  him  to  fide  oler 

iiQme!  And  tell  him  if  he  doesn't  retuVn  with  her  in 
Je^^UK^a  half  auh^ur,  I'll  bt^k  every  bonei^llS  ^;  | 


r.' 


_1 
-        » 


TV} 


'JFl 


['J 


y 


:> 
"*♦*'. 


■\ 


■-/ 


,^*- 


.>^ 


•'/, 


1 


^ 


Louis  ajQcord: 


STOJ^J 


y  repaired  to  ibekHchen  and  deliv- 
ered the  ord^r^aiJp^or  Jupiter— who,  bemoaning  his  hard 
fate  in  bein^  obliged  to  serve  so  whimsical  a  master, 
was  forged  to  set  out  in  the  storm  in  search  of  the  capri- 
cious Gipsy. 

Half  an  hour,  three-quarters  passed,  and  then  Jupiter, 
soaking  with  rain,  and  reeking  with  sweat,  came  gallop- 
ing back  ;  but  like  young  Lochinvar,  immortalized  in  the 

spnj^ 

He  ro4e  unattended  and  rode  ^Udone,"        ^ 

nd  gray,  and  shaking,  and  trembling  with  fear  and  exr 
pectation  o^  the  "  wrath  which  was  to  come,"  he  pre- 
sented himself  before  his  master.  '  ;,  r 

"Well,  sir,  where's  Miss  Gipsy?"  shouted  the  old 
man,  as  he  entered. 

"  Mas'r,  I  couldn't  bring  her,  to  save  my  precious 
life;  sjbe  wouldjn't  come,  nohow.'  I  tell  her  you  wanted 
her  in^  desprit  hurry  ;  and  shesmd,  s'posin'  you  waited 
till  your  hurry  was  over.  I  said  you  tole  me  not  to  come 
.home  'thout  her  ;  and  she  said,  very  well,  I  might  stay 
all  night,  if  I  liked,  ^ause  she  warn't  comin' home  till 
to-morrer.  I  tole  her  you  was  t'arin*  mad ;  and  she  said, 
you'd  better  .hafve  patience,  and  smoke  your  pipe,  t 
couldn't  do  nothin'  'tall  With  her,  so  I  left,  an' com^ 
back,  an'  dat's  all."  And  without,  waiting  for  the  burst, 
of  wrath  which  he  sawconjting,  Jupiter  beat  a  precipitate 
retreat  to  the  lo'wer  regions.  ^  1/ 

You  should  have  seen  the  wrath*  of  Squire  Erliston 
hen.     How  be .  stamped,  and  raged,  and  swore,   and 

reateiied,  until  he  nearly  frightened  Lizzie  into  hyste- 
rics, used  as  she  was  to  his  fits  of  passion.    And  then,  at 

St,  when  utterly  exhausted,  he  ordered  the  servants  to^ 
go  and  prepare  a"  large,  empty  room,  which  hacl  long 

bieen  unused,  as/ »  pri^n/ f<^  Oipsy«  .upon  hertetur% 

,■   »»,»/■-   .»'..■■■       J  '  \       if 


•t' 


VN 


T 


\ 


\ 


>1 


'  I 


\ 


fJSS  IfAGAR. 


0 


fiverythiog  was  takfcn.out  of  it,  and  here  the  squire 
v^ed  she  should  remain  until  she  had  learned  to  obey 
hrih  for  the  future.  Then,  relapsing  into  sulky  silence, 
he  ^t  down,  "nursing  his  wrath  to  keep  it  warm,"  until 
the  iretufh  of  tlie  little  delinquent. 


/ 


CHAPTER  X. 


i» 


income,  sii^fficil 


■  /  .:.^ 


^     MISS  HAGAR.    \-  ;    '        .   ■ 

"  Let  me  gaze  f6r  k  moment,  that  ere  I  did*  i-^i-.,,!.- 
I  may  read  thee,  lajiy,  a  prophecy  : 
Thait  brow  may  beam  in  glory  aiyh.ile. 
That  cheek  may  bloom,  and  that  lip  may  smile ; 
^ut  clouds  shall  darken  that  brow  of  snow, 
And  S9rrow;s  blight  tha»  bosom's  gU^. " 

—^.  DavisonJ 

_  '/'--'    \,  ■■.:■,■  -yy     '  ',■'_ 

./<^hil,e  the  squire  was  throwing  Ihc 
houselioW  of  Sunset  Hall  info  terror  and  c6n- 
sternatjon,  the  object  of  his  wrath  %as /en- 
joying ber^cltwich  audacious  coolness  af  Deep 
-,■'■-,.-•'  Dale.  "''.;-■   ^'^^  •■  "  ■  -  -  ■^    «- 

The  family  of  D<5ctor  ^icholaS^jseman  coifisist^  of 
one  daughter,  a  year  bir  two  older  than  Gipsy,  a  nephew 
called  Archie  RiyeVs,  ^nd'  a  maiden  step.sUferr5i% 
Hagar  Dedley.  The  doctdr,  who  wiis  naturally  gra^in^  ' 
and  avaricious,  wouli^^nqr  ha|e!  btirdened  fliimsel!f| with 
the  care  of  those  t\vo  haSl  it  b'een>toytbing  out  of  hii  owii 
pocket  The  parents  of  Archie  R'ivers\adbeeatol^ably 
wealthy,  and  at  their  death  l^ad'  left  him  quite  a  fortune, 
and  amply  Remunerated,  the  doctpr  for  takifig  charj^e  of 
him  until  he  s]uiiUJl>e.of  age.  Miss  H^ar  Had  a  slander 

rtier  want^and  was  permitted  i  room 

rt.. 


11 "' 


^~'H 

f 

**c 


i%X^^'  '>'■ 


■■■*     ■-"'• 


.•      XV 


9a 


M7SS    itAGAJf. 


S  hisSf! "^  asl^Mig  as  she  should  cont^ue  te  Ufce  ^fe 

■.J^y^^'^<'^<^^^^n  the  resilience  o^ a  wealthy 
i^a  4r,stQcratld  fa^mily,  but ha«  by  some  unknown  means 
parsed  from  their  hands  to  those  of  Doctor  Wiseman. 
ALi      "^u    f  ."\"^™«  ^'"P^ed,  a  long,  deep,  sloping* 
dale,  with  thfefor^t  of  St.  Mark's  towering  dkrklyb^ 

frn«;  ""th  I  ""     •'  ^T'^  ^*^"  '^^P^"«  *^«w"  ^rom  the 
front.  The  house  itself  was  a  long,  low,  irregular  niapsion 

look'^^  sandstbae.  with  a  quaint,  pleasant,  old-fashioned 

d^^^?i!?i7*'  now  approaching.  The  curtains  weh» 
dfawn,  thumps  lighted,  and  the  family  assembled  in 
the  plainly  almost  scantily,  furnished  sitting-room. 

By  the  fire,  in  a  large  leatherii  arm-chair,  sat  our  old 
cquaintance,  the  doctor,  with  one  long,  lean  leg  crossed 
.ver  he  other  one  eye  closed,  and  th^  other  fixed  so 
ntently  on  the  floor  that  he  seemed  to  be  counting  t^e 
threads  m  the  carpet.  Years  have  done  anything  b„T  add  . 
to  hi^  charms,  his  face  never  looked  so  much  like  yellow 
^rchnient^  as  it  did  then,  his  armsand  legs  wereionger 
and  skinnier-looking  than  ever,  and  altogethei-,  a  nifre 
unpreposses^rhg  fa9e  could  hardly  have  been  discovered.   • 

fic„^J     T    *'    "'"',"^'  ^'  ^^''  ^^^^''    K«r  '«"» thin . 
figure   and^grave,  solemn  fa9e,  made. her  look  almost  . 

majestic,  as,.%ith  her  lips  firmly  compressed,  she  knit 
away  m  grim  silence.  Unlike  otHer  spinsters,  she  flei- 
ther  petted  dogs  nor  cats^but  hkd  a  most  unaccountable 
mama  for^  fortune-telling,  a^d  had  been,  for  years,  thb 
seeress  and  sibyl  of  the  whole  neighborhood 

of  M^ss  Hagar,  with  Gipsy  on  ond  side  of  her,  and  Archie 
Rivers  on  the  other,  regarding  heras  though  she  were 
some  sort  of  natural  curiosity.^  And,  truly,  a  more  lovely 
child  could  scarcely  have  been  found. 


.vi' 


A' 


:T7 


-1^ 


rero 

■1^ 

.* 

?'■■,*■ 

'■y'-" 

i'ii  ■    ' 

■^  '               V"    '■., 

)■ 


nie  same  age  as  Gipsy,  btit 

with  a  beautifully  rounded 

most  children,  but  slender' 

flow  wand.    A  small,  fair, 

hair,  and  soft,  dreamy  eyes 

angel's. 


She  ap; 
'  was  taller 
figure,  not  pi 
and  elegant,  a 
sweet  face, 

of  blu^  and  a  smi , 

,   Such  was  Celeste  ! 

Such  a  contrast  as  she  was  to  Giosv  as  shi.  <af  «;»i» 

^^rlittle  white  hands  folded  in  her  S^'^  S^^l^^ 

lashes  falhng  shyly  over  the  blue  eyes  ;  her  low  re« 

.     vojceand  limid  manner,  so  still  Jci  gentleTrid^ 

e^sh  companu>n,  with  her  dark,  brighfface^le^^^g^ 

sparkling,  restless  eyes,  her  short,  sable  locks,  and  W 

^  every  motion  so  quick  and  startling,.as  to  litake  one 

nervous  watching  her.      *     .  5»     »  lo  maice  one 

rnJ^'^M    ^'^^"'   *   ""^"y*    good-looklag    lai    with 

wSt  theT  ^"^  -^-S»^-g  f-ce,  saf,alte;naTe' 
watching  the  fai^,  downcast  face  of  Celeste,  and  the 
Piquan^  gipsyish  countenance  of  the  other!^     "^  ^ 
At  the  table  sat  MinA^tte  Wiseman,  a  proud  suoerb 
looking  girl  of  t^welve.     Her  long,  jetilacrh^rK 
glossy  braids  over  her  shoulders ;  her  elbows  rested  on 
^mr'- '  '  ^'f'^^-PPorte^  by'  her  hand!   h^r  Lrg" 
glittering  black  eyes^xed  on  Celeste,  with  a  look  of 
;.fi^d  d^hke  and  je^ousy  that  was  nev^r  to ^i^ouTdt^ 

->,.  "^"^  ^y^  »'ave  no  other  name  biit  Celeste"  said 
Gipsy,  trying  to  peer  under  the  drooping  ksh^esr^stin^ 
Z^^^T''''''''^'^-    "Now;  if  th^at  iso^fr^yl 
E^O;body  has  two  names  but  yo.i^en  «,    I  baje.. 

«mrJif^'  ^K^'^  ^°"'^'-    "^^^^^  is  something  dad  aild 

.    "Elfinish?    It's  no  such  things     It's  a  cLt  deal, 
prettier  than  ydurs,  Archie  Rivers?   And  ^Jr^tdy^a 


^1J1 


■«  i; 


I . 


if 


^ 


jX: 


IMAGE  eVAlUATION 
T|ST  TARGET  (MT^3) 


4^      i^  '4^^^^ 


1      te 


V    - 


Xi  ^lu  Igi 


6" 


'^ 


■  > 

r  - 

/..,., 

m 

i 


■m>- 


aifiriiib^  1 1 


'^^^^mt 


fsg^^f-i 


_Scienoes 
Corporalian 


as  WIST  MAM  STR^ 

WntTIR.N.Y.  I4SM 

471«)tnr4^ 


■) 


'  ^v 


*  -f 


■■  ■?■.. 


•  \,.. 


"N 


',*' 


■;■*■' ;. 


94 


JIf/SS    JrAQ4R, 


live  before  you  came  here,  Celeste?''  continued  Giosv 
returning  to  the  charge.  *^  ^* 

"  With  Aunt  JKatie,"  replied  Celeste,  sof tiy. 
"And  where  is  she  now  ?"  went  on  Gipsy 
«  Dead  1"  said  the  child,  while  her  lip  trembled,  and 
a  tear  fell  oi^  the  little  broivdT hand  lying  on  her  owk. 

Do  tell !  and  IVe  made^ou  cry,  tQo.  Now,  if  that 
a*"' too  bad.  Do  you  know,  Celesta,  I  never  cried  in 
myli^?".  '     ^  -^ 

^0%  what  a  fib  !"  exclaimed  Archie.    "You  were 
the  horridest  young  one  to  cry  ever  I  heard  in  my  life 
You  did  nothing  but  yell  and  roar  from  morning  till 

M  don't  believe 'it  I  I  don't  believe  it !"  inignantly 
exclaimed  Gipsy.  "  I'm  sure  I  was  too  sensible  a  baby 
to  do  anything  of  the  kind.  Anyway,  I  hair e  never  cried 
since  I  can  remember.  And  as  to  fear-were  you  ever 
afraid?   she  asked,  suddenly,  of  Celeste. 

"  Oh,  yes— often."         * 

Did  you  ever?  Why,  y^«  look  afraid  now.  Aro 
you?      ' 

"Yes;"  ■  t;  :--:■     -  :'  '  -/' 

"My!    Whatof?'»    ' 

"Of  you,"  said  Celeste,  shrinking  back,  shyly.^»m 
her  impetuous  little  questioner.  .  /»^i^"» 

_  "Oh,  my  stars  and  garters !  Afraid  of  me,  and  after 
Ive  been  so  quiet  and  good  with  her  all  the  eveninjr  !" 
ejaculated  Gipsy  ;  while  Archite,  who  was  blessed  with 
a  lively  sense  of  the  ridiculous,  leaned  back  and 
laughed  heartily. 

"Well,  after  that  I'm  never  going  to  believr  there's 
anything  but  ingratitude  in  ./4w  world,"  said  Giosv 
with  an  emphasis  on  the  "Mi>  "  which  seemed  to  dcnf 
sh9  ^mT  met  with  gratitude  iai^qother. 


-   J 


d 
U 
b 
tl 

P 

iA 

re 


Ota 
yo 

b^ 


;S^,-a*-*— »  ":»■•• 


'li^^^^^L 


.;.^. 


''\ 


Are 


/" 


'    '7'  ' 


Jf/ss  jrAG4Ji, 


^k 


•oo^  Jr::Ld  :^  ?"' r"  >^- »' ^>-«.^a,  she 
♦*Oh  {#'»  "»  * '"  sure.     Iii^f^sorrv" 

o«  for  it  if  he  malte"  a  f?J     ,  °  .^f'? '    I'"  l>ay  him 
,     lo-a  that's  one  comtot"  '  "**"'  **?»  '^»  <•«»>« 

be  Z:  rfr;ru'^L,''r,onf '""^  J-P'tcr  .ook«,  a, 

,    fold  Wm  you  wou'TdaWofb*^?.  a::? '  *?"  »""  ^o" 

ludicrous  recillection,  Ma^terT^h'     °'*"°°"  ^y  ""> 

•  paroxysm  of  laughter  ^~'"«  >««•»  foil  baclt  io 

much.  Celeste?"         '    ""','  ''~'"«-     »<»  you  laugh 
"No,  not  much."    • 

^^^'ilo^^^^:'C'''^f"'r^  e"b«f4i'm  top 

laugh.  tL«v A«hie"n;rt°:ir''' ^'  P~P'« 

but  Minnette-do yduknoJ'r  „.  "*''»"'"»  laughing; 
•ha,  is,  really  wt  Sh^  IT '"""f ''"S"  y«- 
plea«.nt  smile  eit^r  but  »  ..      f .  «"»«"»«  :  not.  . 

Minnette,"  ^^T^^^l^^Z^l^:^^"^  '»^' 
reason  yon  never  laugh  ?'*^  "«  yOice^  "what  is  the 

ofe."  «dd  Mit  hIL  ^^ff J^f  '««  for  a  smiling 
you,  you  poo?  Jiufe^^ild'^^  wL'"a'""-    "*"^ 


.I>»v 


'  I  i 
1 1 1 


■-Vr' 


ir/.S^    HAGAR, 


blood.  The  bird  has  its  eyes  put  out  with  red-hot  iron 
before  it  can  be  made  to  sing  sweetly  ;^and  so  you,  too, 
poor  bird,  must  be  blinded,  even  though  you  should  flut- 
ter and  beat  yourself  to  death,  trying  to  break  through 
the  bars  of  your  cage." 

"Humph  !  I'd  likfe  to  see  them  trying  to  put  my  eyes 
out,"  said  Gipsy.  "I^uess  I'd  make  them  sing»  and  on 
the  wrong  sidft^of  theif  mouths,  too— at  least,  I  think  I 
should !"  .^ 

"Oh,  Miss  HaSgpkr,  tell  us  our  fortunes— you  haven't 
done  so  this  long  time,"  exclaimed  Archie,  jumping  up. 
*  Here  is  Gipsy  wants  to  know  hers,  and  Celeste's,  too; 
and  a$  for  me,  I  ki^pw  the  future  must  have  something 
splendid  in  store  for  so  clever  a  fellow,  and  Vm  anxious 
to  know  it  beforehand." 

^  Don't  be  too  anxjous,"  said  Miss  H^gar,  fixing  her 
gloomy  eyes  prophetically  on  his  eager,  happy  face ; 
"troubles  are  soon  enough  when  they  come,  without 
wishing  to  forestall  them."  ..^ 

.  "  Wh/,  Miss  Hagar,  you  don't  me^d|^say  I'm  to' 
have  troubles?"  cried  Archie,  laughinjlpf  they  do 


« 


It 


come,  I'll  laugh  in  their  face,  and  cry^  'W^ver  surren- 
der/ I  don't  believe,  though,  my  trojubles  will  be  very 
Heavy.  i^^  [  ■   -.  ..^  ■...-■  \,'i' .  '#■■ 

"  Yes,  the  heaviest  troublca^that  man  can  ever  know 
shall  be  thine,"  said  the  oracle,  in  her  deep,  gloomy 
voice.  "The  day  will  come  when  despair,  instead  of 
laughter,  will  fill  your  beaming  eyes;  when  the  smile 
shall  have  left  your  lip,  And  the  hue  of  health  will  giire 
place  to  the  dusky  glow  of  the  grave.  Yes,  the  day  will 
come  when  the  wrong  you  may  not  quell  shall  cling  to 
•you  llktf  a  garment  of  flame,  crushing  and  overwhelming 
'  you  and  all  you  love,  in  its  fiery,  burning  shame.  The 
day  will  come  when  one  for  whom  you  would  give  your 
lif«  •hall  desert  you  for  your  deadliest  enemy,  and  lcav« 


\ 


ot  iron 
>u,  tob| 
Idflut- 
irough 

ly  eyes 
md  on 
hink  I 

laven't 
ng  up. 
s,  too ; 
sthing 
ixious 

igher 

face ; 

itheut 

I'm  to' 
By  do 
irren- 
ivery 

i^'--''  ■ 

know 
oomy 
ad  of 
smile 
Igiire 
^  will 
ngto 
ming 
The 
your  ♦ 
ieavfl 


.-> 


^iie^ce  that  folWd  (hl'Sbvl^.       T  "**    '"'P««ive 
comes  to  pass  1    It  wil   be^c^  '  »ords-'.  when  all  that 

g««  .pretty  speech  by  heart  "«£  m-        "'«■"  K«"'»g 
■i«W»g  bljck'eyes  on  th^  face   'f  ,?f'"".'^  ''^'"S  "o^" 
wWshe  repealed  it!    She'd  n.rkeh!  T"""    "«'"' 
-'gfas  a  tragedy  queen."    ^       "'  ''"/  *°"-«  »  the 

ened  and  her  stern  monf  h    'P®*'^®'^'  ^^»^e  her  face  dark- 

>on  heart  onhrhr»eu''Zl'"l»  "«-4 
•s  sealed  with  granite  shlll  VJi  **""  "'""'^  «» 
ty  the  roofc,  to  be  <il  ^    ^e"'  every  fiber  drawn 

Weeding,  «rivaS;d  and^lrL^T  'o'  "'"'™"°8  ""I 

herLs;y"bLnair?,'J^:S/''''''"«  '«"'•  "-"-'""y. 
-f-w.obeHeveVo.?^mi>-^-«J, 

W^riLi^;^i;^<h»  fMrara,  ,h.  ^ 
8;atheredinherey'esotgra"L'tl.%'''  <"  i»spi«,io„ 
chanted,  in  a  wild,  Axx^^^l^JTT^  '"  "^  ''o-  *«   " 

■:   .    '  .■■■"■■         ■■'     ■   •T  '    •'  ■•        '4-  ■  ■■         ;/      '.  ■ 


thai 

yet 

out 


^v 


boi^^^s  ::;^:iKt^  and. 

.qw^Ied  before  her  ste^^"«4^1  their  boldness, 


I 


**? 


^;i:^'9« 


^V: 


Jf/M^ 


> 


^^-^ 


f%- 


friJh^'S^'?  ^  H^r,  if  ypH  haven't  nearly 
Wghtened  this  little  atorpy  Wo  fits!"  said  Gibsy  "I 
dec  are,  of  aU  the  littlex^oWardseverw^as,  she's thSg^^^^^ 
est  ^  Now,  If  I  thought  it  wouldn't  scare  the  life  out  of 
her  Id  haye^piy  fortune  told.  If  everybody  else  is  goinir 
to  have  suc^  pretty  things  happen  to  them,  I  don^  sel 
whyl  shouldn't,  too."  ,         »  ^^ 

^  "Come  here^  then,  4nd  let  me^d  thy  fate,"  said 
^iss  Hag^r.    "The  spirit  is  upon  me  to-night,  and   it 
may  never  come  more."  **    '      ^   ** 

littlet^r^fi?'*  ^;f»«'  «toP^  grinning  and  'tend   tWs 

Wti^  scary  thing.    Now,  go  ahead,  liliss  Hagar.'V 

-  The  seeress  looked  down  solemnly  Sfe  &daric 

t^he"t?oJ!!?V*""  ''P'"™"^  ^°  «^^  *°  ^^^^  i  into 
the  wicked  Brown  eyes,  twinkling  atid  glitte/in<r  with* 
suchinsuflferable  mischief  and  mirJh ;  an|  b&^^ 
tall  body  down,  she  again  chanted,  in  herdrSry  tonel       ' 

"1^5*" ''■**<*<^™«d  from  thy  birth  oh  m.fat«<i/^hiM  . 

Thore  is  blood  on  thine  hMd,  there  is  dea&  in  tS?  we        ' 
And  the  one  who  best  loves <hee,  4k  rt^^^JSr^V 


M-' 


:  *' *^*  5»°  *  pleasant  I    I  always  knew  I'd 

rflr"^'^  •   ^^fS?"^^  •"  ^^'l^in^ed  Gipsy.    "Won- 
der  who  It  IS  goit^  to  l^  ?    Shouldn't  be  s'prised  if  'twas 

iTlJr  "^"^  '''^^-^tS  to  send  hL  to  Jericho 
ejer  «nce  I  can  remember.    L*  I  if  it  comes  true,  won't 
/^in^e.  and  Archie  and  I  be  in  a  •  State  of  nrtnd'  one  o 

h-t!f  l^^f  •    ^"^I  ^^*^''^'  ^°^«  ^^^r  here,  and  let's 
.  have  a  little  more  of  the.,hprrible'    I  begin  to  like  it  " 

her  sS^  ^r^^^  SW'  ^id  Archie,  lifting  her  off 

fo^"-^^^"'?  ""'^^  *  ''^^^  cry  of  terroiv  covered  her 
f^ce  with  her  hands,  and  shrank  hick.  ^ 


■>*' 


M 


vV.. 


> 


V 


■>«' 


w  I'd 
Won-  > 
'twas 
Ticho 
ivon't 
ne  of 
I  let's 


:  nearly* 

fy-  ;"i       J: 

5  great-  ^ 

out  of^    -i^ 

r 

{going 
n't  see 

■■' 

J,"  said 
and   it 

1    : 

d   this    , 

^^ssit^^^ 


*  /4 


"''.  oo,  na!— no   „„  ,     y'  "'pn.t  huit  you  "  ^ 


•■/':; 


can    .«..„  .o  ^ch'Tf^  ;C:-..  "«''"^^W     I 

_,.   t  •  """""Jghforher—^      IMUng  herself 

-*»  know  the  future  „h!„^*"°'"'"«>nbling  dove  I 

.      '^.'«Ue  simpletons  in  n^™^' '?'''' <'«««on  «  Lave 

^  iom^natl^i '^P-^  ^  H^.her^,,„,„4„,^ 
>   awful  stiil.    1  sneair       V    ^^'^  '  'e"  J'w  a  fAt^  J! 
■^ -..»  shaji  hinL?::^."^  - 'nspiredf  a„5  ^;::?^ 

foQll    he  muttered  to  himself  in  ^^f  ^°^^  ''"^^^  an  old 
He  started  back  ni«    f  .      ^  '*^'^«*'  tone. 

.  •r*??brhisSt:^rh°he;"e't'-'--.«i.et,««,,.f,/ . 

n»ni  with  a  wild  in^lJ  ®^ps  fairly  bla*lr.«.      ■ 

f  h  such  an  i„r4!blXr^°'™"  "^^^^^^^^^ 

;2^?s;--^^St:^^-^  . 


:ljl 


d] 


-  J:i 


i-A' 


» 


■v.. 


lOO 


MISS   HAGAR. 


^-. 


■'0 


;  "What  in  .the  world's  got  into  you,  GipsyT."  asked 
Archie,  at  length,  in  surprise.  "What  argy^ looking 
ho  solemn  about*?'*';'   '  ,     .     ,  ;\         1 

"Archie,"  she  said,  l($oking  up  solemnly  in  fiis  face, 
^^ 2lxs\  \ possessed f"       •  ;,rV  '      * 

"Possessed!  Why,  yes,  I  ^hduld  say  you^were — 
possessed  by  the  very  spirit  of  mischief  I"  -- 

"  Oh,  Archie,  it's  not  that.  Don't  you  know  it  tells 
in  the  Bible  about  people  being  possessed  with  demons  t 
Now,  AKchie,  do  you  thinlcl  am^^  ' 

"  What  ft  qyestieii !  Na;  of  cours^  not,  you  little 
,.goose:i*" . Wi  r^"^  ": .  - '. ,.:- '^h^^^'  ^:  ■   .  ,. ' '      ' 

"Bwause  When  :#^/- pointing  to  tl»c  doctor,  "said 
what  he  did,  T  just^^elt  as  if  something  within  me  was 
forcing  me  to  catch  him  by  the  throat  and  kill  him.  And, 
Archie,  I  could  hardly  keep  from  doing  it ;  and  I  do  be- 
lieve I'm  possessed." 

This  answer  seemed  to  Master  Archie  so  comical  that 
he  went  off  into  another  roar  of  laugb^F';  a)^  in  the 
midst  of  it,  he  rolled  off  his  seat  upon  me  floorVwhich 
event  added  to  his  paroxysm  x^£  delight  ,.  '  / 
,  The  doctor  growled  out  certain  ai]iathemi«j|||his  ill^ 
timed  mirth,  and  ordered  Master  Rivers  onto  bed. 
Then  Miss  Hagar  folded  up  her  w^rk,  and  taking  Celeste 
with  her,  sought  her  jo^  room,  where  a  little  trundle- 
bed  had  been  priepared  for  the  child.  And  Minne^te— 
who,  much  against  her  will,  was  to  share  her  room  with 
Cripsy,  for  whom  she  had  no  particular  love— got  up  and 
lit  the  night-lamp,  and,Jolloi^d,  by  the  willful  fay,  be- 
took herself  to  rest. -^\ 

The  next  morn^dawned  clear,  sunshiny  and  bright. 
Immediately  after  breakfast,  Gipsy  mounted  Migqonne, 
and  set  out  to  encounter  the  storm  which  she  knew  awaited 
her  at  Sunset  Hall. 


f 


. .  •■ 


,v  --'        'V 


if' 

I 


"<«.'". 


-.(■.♦.i  Aft'  -/■ 


OUTWITS    THE  SQUIRB, 


<oi, 


"i-. 


.CHAPTER  XI. 

GIPSY   OUTFITS  THE   SQUIRE. 

.;x  ■  ■.  /  ■     ■■.    •  • 

.  ^^^^^^^^ 

.^TheDou^asinhishaliy^-MXiuaoM.  t      ~      "^ 

I    with  an  inward  chuckle,  of  the  towiraS 

Wowmg  up, test  night,  for  comia^  ho^m^  wiS^ut*°^et 
*|Mis*  Roarer,  honey,  for  mussy  sake.4liBV  'fr^™* 

caze  he'd  jeV  as  iief  kill  you  asU^Co ^a"  n'mat: 
tell  s^oh°S^I°U"  """P'^'""'    Do  you  tbinkly 

JuDi  er  ^„  »  .K?  "  """'  ^■'°'"  '^'^  """.'•  siid  poor 

lemen 


got  de  old  boy's  temper  in  dem. 
"Why,  you  old 


ger 


what' 


*i- 


1:1 


■1»? 


-yl'mnotal^tyrS^JiSr-"*"  *•  ^''"  ""^  ^ 


Gipsy,  indignaatly. 


-*: 


A: 


■:.-S: 


'J'-'^, 


102       GIPSY  OVTWITS    TffE    SQUIRE, 

"  J«8'  SO,  Miss  Roarer,  I  doil't  care  ef  yer  does  whip 

mer—dar  !     S'pose  a  lady,  a  real  lady,  would  go  for  to 

shoot  a  poor  nigger  what  ain't  a  doing  no  harm  to  no- 

...Jjody,  or  go  ri4in'  out  all  hours  ob  de  night  t^you  do. 

No!  stands  to  reason,  dey  wouldn't,  an' dat's  de  trufe 

^now,  eif  1 1>  a  good-for-nothin'.     Dar  I" ,;  ^  ;    \ 

"Yoii  aggravating  old  Jupiter,  you;  I'll  ^aryouif 
yoji  give  me  any  more  of  your  inipudence,"  saui  G^>sy, 
^flourishing  her  whip  over  her  head. 

"Miss  Roarer,"  be^an  Jupiter,  adroitly  ducking  his 
head  to  avoid  a  blow.  \ 

"Silence,  sir  !  Don't  *Miss  Roarer'  me.  Keep  your 
advice  till  it's  called  for^  and  take  Mignonne  off  to  tite 
stables,  an'  rub  hitn  down  well ;  and  if  you  leave  one 
speck  of  dust  on  him,  I'll  leave  you  th  guess  what  I'll  do 
to  you."  And  so  saying,  Gipsy  gathered  upj^r  riding- 
habit  in  her  hand,  and  ran  up  the  broad  step,  singing  at 
the  top  of  her  voice :  v 


"  Oh  I  whistle  and  I'll  come  to 'you,  my  lad. 
Oh  i  whistle  and  I'll  come  to  you,  my  lad ; 
Though  Guardy  and  auniy,  an'  a'  should  00 
Just  whistle  an'  I'll  come  to  jrou,  my  lad.'* 


mad. 


« I 


'  Gipsy,  Gipsy,  hush,  child  !  Your  guardian  is  dread- 
fully angry  with  you,  and  will  punish  you  very  severely, 
I'm  afraid,"  said  Mrs.  Gower,  suddenly  appearing  from 
the  dining-room.  "  This  reckless  levity  will  make  mat- 
ters worse  if  he  hears  you.  Oh,  Gipsy,  how  could  you 
do  such  an  outrageous  thing  ?"  ; 

"  La,  aunty  !  Iliaveh't  done  any  'outrageous  thing' 
that  I  know  of." 

"  Oh,  child !  you  know  it  was  very  wrong,>^  wrobg; 
of  you,  indeed,  to  stay  at  Deep  Dale  all  night  against  h 
express  commands.'' 


■A 


'  f^'^  ,'''J^*g',%fV\ 


\..: 


•*. 


\ 


rPSl^    OUTWITS    THM    SQUIRe/ioi 
.»J'!^!*V"'^^'^^''**''^®^^°ythin»very  wrong  at  all 

"  Fun  !    Oh  !  you  prpvoking  little  gbpse  I  he'll  pun- 
ishyou  very  severely,  I'm  certain."  \  ^ 

^^*^Well,  let  him,  then.  I  don't  care.  I'll  pay  him  off 
hJii  /r^  '»•"«-«««  if  I  don't    What  do  you  s'pqse 

^orhowf  "'"'''""'^^    Have  me  tried  by  couLmartial, 
or  hold  a  coroner's  inquest  on  top  of  meT  or  w^  ?'• 

"  He  IS  going  to  Jock  you  up  in  that  ol^  lumbwioomi 
he  ^  3 »*"'*"•  *"**  ^^®P y°"  **»«'^«  <>°  bread  and  Wktef' ^ 

V  r^®'^'  "^o^'  I'il  leave  it  to  everybody,  if  that  isn^ 
barbarous.  IVs  just  the  way  the  stW-h^ed  father! 
in  the  stoij^books  do  to  their  daughters,  wheb  they  fall 

/)in  love  and  then  their  beaus  coipe,  filled  with  love  a 
:.  We-laddersi  and  oflTthey  go  through  the  window!\  say; 

IwJnSSwr  "^^^  chance  for  me  to  get  throug^ 

el,  1^°'  *°?^'  ^^^  **■*  fastened  outside  with  woodek 
shuttersandironbolts.  Thereis  no  chaftce  of  ^L 
so  you  had  best  be  very^ood  and  penite^t,  and  beg  hU 
pardon,  and  p^^ps  b<*  may  foigive  you.'f  ^ 

•^Beg  his  Ifpn  !/  Ha  I  ha !  ha !  auniy.  I  like  that 
wouldn't  ArcSSWh  if  W  hearCit  jL  fincy  J^' 
i^if!L  ffl^  '^^^"J'"  "*y  ^"^^  before  Wm,  whim,^ 
potato,  and  begging  his  serene  highness  fotorgive  me. 

Wf  "T'  *^°  ''^^"-  Oh.'  goodness  |niciout 
just  fancy  what  a  scene  it  would  be  r  - 

lnll?h  7^^**  ^.^'''  guardian's  pa«ion,  when  she 
knew  she  did  wrong."   x        ,  .  ]  ' ,  a      ^ 

t«^^L'  "^  ktiow  tliat  I'vi  did  wron^  On  th^con- 
tnu7, 1  know  I've  did  Hghtj  and  I'm  going  to  do  it  over 
again,  the  first  chance-there  1" 

■  ■  .^ •  ,  -.    ■  ■ ' ■ 


•  v^-: +J- 


Kl 


lA 


y 


^-y 


::/', 


OUTWITS    THE    SQUIRE. 


-      "  Oh,  Gipsy  .'—child— yoili'are  perfectly  incorrigibl(&. 
I  despair  of  ever  being  able  to  do  anything  with  you; 
As  I  toIdVou  before,  J I  shouldn't  be  surprised  if  yiiur 
guardian  turned  yoinout  of  doors  for  your  condj  ^ 
•'  And  as  I  XoXdCyou  before, aiinty,  I  wouFd  norwant  bet- 

,  ter  fun.    Archie  Rivers  is  going  to  West  Point  soon,  and, 
I'll  go  with  him, 'and 'do  iny  country  >some  service'  in  .■ 
the  ndxt  war." 

"If  he  turned  you  out,  GifJsy,  it  would  break  hay 
fieaift,"  said  Mrs./ Gower,. plaintively..  *  ;    ^     ^        X 

^  Yes,  and  I  suppose  it  would  bre&k  miiie  too,  but  I 
luclHly  dont  happen  to  have  a  heart,"  satd^  <J»psy,  who 

■  never Jb>y  any  chance  could,  as  she  called  it,  "do  the  seii'    . 
tioo^tal."    "However, aunty,  let's  live  in  the  sublime  f 
hope  that  you'll  break  the  necks  of  tw<^or  three  hundred  ' 

;'chickens  and  geese,  before  you  breaK  your  own  heart 
yet,  And  I  p^^test,  here  comes  Guardy^  stamping  and 
fuming  up  the  l^wn.  Clear  out;  aunty,  for  I  expect  he'll  ' 
hurl  the  whole  of  the  Proverbs  of  Solomon  at  my  head, 
find  one  of 'em  might  chance  to  hit  yoii.  Go,  aunty,.! 
want  to  Bght  my  own  battles;  and  if  I  don't  come  off 
with  druitis  beating  and.polors  flying,  it'll  be  a  caution  ! 
Hooray !" 

.  iVnd  Gipsy  Waved  hey:  plumed  hat  abov^  her  head, 
and  whirled  rpun'd  the  room  in. a  defiant'waltz. 

She  was  suddenly  hiterrupted  by  the  entrance  6f  the 
squire,"  \Hio,  thrusting  both  hanHs  into' his  coat  pockets, 
stood  flaming  with  rage  before  her;  whereupon  GipSy, 
plunging  her  hands  into  i^e  pockets  of  her  riding-habit, 
plapted  both  feet  firmly  onl  the  ground,  and  confronted 
him  with  a  digntfied  f rowni  and  an  awful  expression  o^ 
countenance  gent^rally,  and  to  his  amazement,  burst  out 

.with:     4'    "  .  /      .  i' 

"You   unprincipled,   abanddned,  benighted,  befud-J 
d^ed  old  geatltfttan  !  how  dare  you Jif^ve  the  impu^enc^, 
'■■"    ■■-■  r'--  '^'^  .■■■  '^  ■  .■  '     ■  ,■  *■ 

■  ■''•.■■•■''    r  ■■-  ■    ■  •''  _  \     ■ 


X 


^'i 


\ 


•V.i 


\ 


i   />  -l  \ 


%-v 


-   I  ^"ilf 


GIPSY    Qt/ TWITS    THE    SQUIRE, 


*H- 


105 


>ceffrontery,  the   bftzenness.  thejmperdnence.  fire^T^ 
/the-^,ery th,ag-else !  t6  shovl  jj^ur  face  to  m|B  aftt  y^    . 
outrageous.  yournanJfeard-of.  your  monst^us.  /ourl 
yes,  I  w.l|  say  .t~diaboIical  conduct  yesterdk; !     Yes^^ 
sir  !  I  repeat  ,t,  sic-^I'm  amazed  at  your  effrontery,  l^r 

orrfiyrh^'-^f  i:!.""^'^''^^"^^^-'  de^enerS^k    on 
if^hfnn?  .h^TK'^"  tremendous  min^the  roaring  V 
lightning,    the  flashing  thunder,   the  silent  wiftds     in    ' 

ofVourfel'rr;'"  T^  ''^"'  ^"^'^^"^  -— e  aiameS  / 
of  yourself  tlian  If  you  weren't  a  fair  blot  on  the  foul^^ 
face  of  creation  !    Answer  me,  old  gentleman  and  W 
ever  afterward  hold  thy  p^^ce!"     ^  '  ^^  ^°*^" 

"You  abominable  little  wretch  t  You  intonate  lifH*. 
fiend,  j^  I    You  impish  Jittie  imp,  y^f  "rth^sh 

purple  with  rage.  f  ' 

Fn  "1^^  ""*'  *'^""''*>''  y°"'"  completely  founder  the* 
E^hsh  language,  if  you  donV  uke  cr|'  ic,err"p!S     : 

3^  impudent  little  vixe/i    111  make  you  rebent       ' 
yesterday:,   coBduct,"  ,l,,.ndered  the  squfrl  L"K 
^W  by  the  shoulder  ajdabai^ng  her  tilUh/^st^! 

^.i°r!'™;!??.^^'^^°'f5N«»»».y^o-donv 


«'!'/ 


you  tty  that  again  -■•  k„tte;ed  &i;  -plXt^rtj^rh! 
and  wrenching-  h*»rc«if  k„  „  ^.^__/*  \  "  iE*^    -f  °reatft, 

:,|lr 


and  wrenching^self.  by  a7o;;Xi  ^^f  ^^S 
©rasp.  /   ^ 


of 

lit' 

-  , 

i-J^ 

'^■/•,. 

K  ^ 

\ 

\-  * 

■^4 

■-  tv 


fl\. .  ■  •-' 


"Whydidnt  you  come  home  wbfcn  I  sent  ifOT%o^ 
^^^^  that,  or  r  won't  leave  a  sound  bone  tn  your 
body.    Xpjow,  then!"      ,  .  ,      .-.       .    T    ^  «t^ 

^."',^^k^"^''^y'  to.  tell  the 4rul;hi  it  wa/becau^  i 
didn't  <?hooBpto.    Now,  then  !"  '  '  °^"««  * 

fo-  I  ^""7^*^°"  incomparable  little  Impudence.  I'll 

.fairly  niurder  you  !",shotfted  the  squire,  ral^  his  hand 

.    iii^is  ra«  to^rike  her  a  blow,  which  would^ssu^ 


^^1 


m:.- 


I 


»  V 


"H: 


106       GIPSY    OUTWITS    THE    SQUIRE. 


have  killed  her ;  but  Gipsy  adroitly  dodged,  and  his  hand 
fell  with  stunnihg  force  on  the  hall  table.    ' 

With  S(^mething  between  a  howl  and  a  yell,  he  started 
after  her  sis  she  ran'  screaming  with  laughter ;  and  seiz- 
ing her  in  a  corner,  where  she  had  sunk  down  exhausted 
and  powerless  with  her  inward  convulsions,  he  shook 
tier  .until  he  coifld  shake  her  no  longer. 
,  *•  I'll -lock  you  up  !  I'll  turn  you  out  of  doors !  FU 
thrash  you  while  I  am  at^Ie  to  stand  over  you!  No,  I 
won't  thrash  a  womansi^  my  own  house,  but  I'll  loek. 
you  up  and  starve  you  to  death.  I'll  be  hanged  if  I 
cfesn't!"      ^      V     ^     : 

"You'll  be  hanged  if  you  do,  you  mean."  ^^ 

"Come  along ;  we'll  see  what  effect  hunger  and  soli-  . 
tary  confinement  will  have  on  your  high.spirits,  my  lady,*' 
said  the  squire,  seizing  her  by  the  arm  and  dragging  her 
along.        *    '     , 

"Quardy,  if  yoii  do,  my  ghost '11  haunt  you  every 
night,  just  as  sure  as  shooting,"  said  Gipsy,  solemnly. 

•  "  What  do  r  care  about  you  or  your  ghost  I  Come 
along.  '  The  unrighteous  shall  not  live  out  half  their 
days,'  as  Solomon  says ;  therefore  it's  according  to 
Scfipture,  and  no  fault  of  mine  if  yoti  don't  live  long.'^ 
.  "  Solomon  was  never  locked  up  in  a  garret,"  said 
Gipsy,  thrusting  her  knuckles  in  her  eyes  and  beginning 
to  sob,  '!jmd  he  don't  know  anything  about  it.  It's  real 
hateful  of  you  to  lock  me  up — now  I  But  it's  just  like 
you,. you  always  were  an  ugly  old  wretch  every  way." 
Sob,  sob,  sob. 

^'That's  right,  talk  away!  You  can  talk.and  scold  as 
jpuch  as  you  like  to  the  four  bare  walls  presently,"  said 
the  squire,  dragging  her  along. 

,  "  You're  a  hateful  old  monster !  I  wish  you  were  far^ 
^nough---I  just  do  !  and  I  don't  care  if  I'nL. taken  up  for 
defaniiAtion  of  character — so,  there  I    Boo^  hoo — ^a  hoo— 


,h^^9 


^     .'■-..■ 


.#■■ 


•  ( *••■■ 


/■■T 


■Vi 


107 


GiPsy-OVTWITS    Tffk    SQUIRE, 

a  hoo,"  sobbed,  tmd  wept,  and  scolded  Gipsy,  as  the 
squire,  inwardly  chucklibg,  led  her  to  her  place  of  cao- 
tivity.  *^         .        *^  ' 

<  They  reached  it  at  length ;  a  large  empty  room  with- 
out a  single  article  of  furniture,  eyen  without  a  chair.  It 
was  quite  dark,  too,  for  the  windows  were  both  nailed 
up,  and  the  room  was  situated  in  the  remotest  portion  of 
the  buUding,  wh^let  poor  GipSy  cry  and  scream  as  she 
pleased,  ?he  couinot^  be  heard.  / 

On  entering  her  prison,  Girisy  ceased  W  sobs  for  a 
moment  to  glance  arpund,  and  her  blank  look  of  dismay 
at  the  aspect  of  her  prison,  thriiw  the  squire  into  a  fit  of 
laughter.  /  - 

"  So,"  h?  chuckled,  "  youW caught  at  last.  Now,  hero 
you  may  stay  till  night,  and  I  hope  by  that  time  Illha^ 
taken  a  little  of  the  mischief  out  of  you."  ^  >^^ 

"And  I'll  have  nothing  to  pass  the  time,'*  wept  Gipsy. 
"Mayn't  I  go  down  stairs  and  get  a  book?" 

"Ha!  ha!  ha!  No.  I  rather  think  you  mayn't. 
Perhaps  I  may  bring  you  up  one  by  and  by,"  said  the 
squire,  never  stopping  to  think  how  Gipsy  was  to  read 
inthedark.  ; 

"Look  up  there  on  that  shelf,  I  can't  reach ;  there's 
one,  I  think,"  said  Gipsy,  whose  keen  eye  had  caught 
.sight  of  an  old  newspaper  lying  on  the  spot  indicated. 

The  squire  made  a  step  forward  to  reach  it,  and  like 
■an  arrow  sped  from  a  bow,  at  the  same  instant,  Gipsy 
darted  across  the  room,  oyt  througfh  the  open  door.  Ere 
the  squire  could  turn  round,  he  heard  the  door  siam  to, 
and  he  was  caught  in  his  own  trap,  while  a  triumphant 
shout,  a  delighted  "  hurrah  I"  reached  his  ear  from  with- 
out. 

The  squire  rushed  frantically  to  the  door,  and  shook, 
and  pulled,  and  swore,  and  threatened  and,  shouted,  to 
all  of  which  Gipsy  answered  by  taatalizingly  asking  him 


/■ 


ti,, 


io8       GlJ'Sy^  OUTWITS    THE    SQUME,^ 


'whether  he'd  coine  out  now,,  or  wait  till  she  let  htm. 
-Then,  finding  throats  of  no  avail,. he  betook  himself  to 
coaxing;  jind  w  leedled,  and  persuaded,  and  promised, 
and  flattered,  but!  equalljr  in  vain,  for  Gipsy  replied  that' 
she  wouldn't  if  she  could,\couldn't  if  she  would,  for  that 

'  she  had"  thrown  the  key  as^ar  as  she  could  pitch  it,  out 
of  ^he  window,  among  the  shrubs  in  the  garden — ^where, 
as  she' wasn't  in  the  habit  of  looking  for  needles  in  hay^-- 
stacks,  she  thought  it  quite  useless  searching  for  it ;  and , 
ended  by  delivering  him  a  lecture  on  the  virtue  of  pa- 
tience and  theteauty  oyi^hristian  resignation  And  after 
exhofting  him  to  impi-ove  his  temper,  if  possible,  during 
his  confinement,  as  she  was  going  over  to  spend  the  day 

.  at  Dri  Spider's  and  teach  Miss  Hagar's  little  girl  to  ride, 
she  went  off  and  left  him,  stamping,  and  swearing,  and 
foaming,  in  a  manner  quite  awful  to  listen  to. 
/  True  to  her  word,  Gipsy  privately  sought  the  stables, 
saddled  Mignonne  herself,  and  rode  off,  without  being 
observed,  to  spend  the  day  at  Deep  Dale.  The  absence 
of  the  squire  was  noticed  ;  but  it  was,  supposed  he  had 
ridden  off  on  business  after  locking  up  Gipsy,  and 
therefore  it  created  no  surprise.  As  he  had  positively 
forbidden  any  one  in  the  house  to  go  near  her  prison,  no 
one  went;  and  it  was  only  when  Gipsy  returned  home 
late  at  nigh^  that  she  learned,  to  her  surprise  and  alarm, 

^e  had  not  yet  been  liberated.  The  door  was  &rced 
open  by  Jupiter,  and  the  squire  was  found  lying  on  the 
floor,  having  raged  himseli  into  a  state  that  quite  pre- 
vented him  from  "  murdering  "  Gipsy  as  he  had  threat- 
ened. Two  or  three  days  elapsed  before  "  Richard  "  be- 
came "  himself  again  ;"  and  night  and  day  Gipsy  hovered 
over  his  bedside — the  quietest,  the  most  attentive  little 
nurse  that  ever  was  seen,  quite  unalarmed  by  his  throw- 
ing the  pillow,  the  gruel  and  pill-boxes  at  her  head  ever^ 


V 


time  she  appeared  in  his  sight 


'% 


A 


A 

\ 

■  /      ■■"   '    ■    ^ 

■  ■/ 

'  '■" 

.A.. 

's 

i: 

^    i 
1 


f-'/f 

y 
li 

/ 

b 

!t~.-v7    •  - 

•  ;' ' 

ei 

TME    TIGSESS    AAp    TBB    DOVE. 


109 


THE  TIGRESS  A>ID,THE 


i>oyE. 

>0' 


i. 
,.--1   - 


Oh,  watfton  malice— deathfufsport-— 
Could  ye  not  spare  my  all  ? 
/  But  mark  my  words*  on  thy  cold  heart 
A  fieiy  doom  shallNfall." 

^-J?«, sodden  glow  of  the  morning,  Minnette 
Wiseman  stood  at  the  door,  gazing  out— not 
watching^e  radiant  beauties  of  nature— not 
listenings  to  I  the  sweet  singing  of  the  birds— 
In..  ««  .u     °°J.^'*^W  the  waves  flashing  and  glitter: 
ng  m  the  sunlight-blit  nursing  her  own  dark,  fathom- 

less  thoughts.      ■:-'".'::    '-^    ,      ■.t\':-'-       >\ -...!,/   v   -■    .■' 

4,o^^°!,'u*  ^'"'^  ?°*°^°M^ '»^  coming  of  Qcieste  she 
had  hated  her,  with  a  deep,  intense  hatred,  th^^^was  des- 

tmed  to  be  the  one  ruling  passion-ofl^pr  life.  She  was 
jealous  <rf  her  beauty,  angry  to  see  her  so  petted  and 
caressed  by  every  ohc,  but  ftjo  proud  to  betray  it 

Pride  and  jealousy  were  her  predominant  passions : 
you  could  see/them  in  the  haughty  poise  of  her  superb 
little  head,  in  the  dusky  fire  smoldering  in  her  glittering 
black  eyes,  in  the  scornful,  curling  upper  lip,  in  the 
erect  carnage  and  proud  step.  In  spite  of  herbeauty  no 
one  seemed  to  like  Minnette,  and  she  liked  no  one 

Among  her  schoolmates  her  superior  talents  won 
their  admiration,n)ut  her  eagle  ambition  to  surpass  them 
all  soon  turned  admiration  into  dislike.  But  Minnette 
went  haughtily  on  her  way,  living  in  the  unknown  world 
of  her  dark,  sullen  thoughts,  despising  both  them  and 
the  love  she  jpght  have  won. 

A  week  {pi  passed  since  the  coming  of  Celeste. 


TTT 


:, ''  ■  ?■■ 


V 


\    116 


TIGHESS   AND    THE   DOVE, 


Miss  Hagar,  feeling  she  was  not  competent  to  undertake 
tlie  instruction  of  such  a  shy,  sensitive  little  creature, 
Wished  to  send  her  to  school.  The  school  ti^  which 
Minnetteand  Gipsy  went  (sometimes)  was  two  miles  dis- 
tant, and  taught  by  the  Sisters  of  Charity.  Miss  Hagar 
would  have  sent  her  thert,  but  there  was  no  one  she  could 
go  with.    She  mentioned)  this  difficulty  to  her  brother 

"Can't  she  go  with  Minnette ?"  said  the  latter,  im- 
patiently. 

"  No^  she  aha'n%"  said  the  amiable  Minnette.  "  I'll 
have  no  such  whimpering  cry-baby  tagging  after  me. 
Let  Madam  Hagar  go  with  her  darling  herself  if  she 
likes."'  X    ,  'sviv.'  ■.  .■;■■     ■    ■ 

"  Just  what  I  expected  Irom  you,"  said  Miss  Ha^r 
looking  gloomingly  in  the  sullen  face  before  her.  ."  If 
thp  Lord  doesn't  punish  you  one  day  for  your  hatred  and 
hard-heartedness,  it'll  be  because  some  of  his  creltures 
will  do  it  for  him.    Take  my  word  for  it" 

"I  don't  care  for  you  or  your  threats,"  said  Minnette, 
angrily  ;  "and  I  dd  hate  your  pet,  old  Miss  Hagar,  and 
1 11  make  everj^dy  else  hate  her  if  I  can,  toa"        .      ^ 

«  Minnette,  fold  your  tongue,'*  called  her  father,  anffrv 
at  being  interrupted  in  his  reading.  *  "^ 

Minnette  left  the  room,  first  casting  a  glance  full  of 
dislike  and  contempt  on  Celeste,  who  sat  in  a  remote 
corner,  iier  hands  over  her  face^  while  the  tears  she 
struggled  bravely  to  suppress  fell  in  bright  drops 
through  her  bper  fingers.  Sob  after  sob  swelled  the 
bosom  of  the  sensitive  child,  on  whose  gentle  heart  the 
cruelwords  of  Minnette  had  fallen  with  crushing  weight./ 
Dr.  Wiseman,  after  a.|ew  moments,  too,  left  the  room/ 
and  Celeste,  in  fa^r  daiOc  corner,  wept  unseen  and  un< 
for.  , 

Suddenly  a  light  f|»Qtstep  entering  the  room  etartl^  ' 


,./.,:.„..• 


•-/<<*' 


I' 


THE    TIGRESS    Jnd    THE   DOvl     ,„ 

take  care  of  rou,  if  you'll  .^oi".!.^    «cademi,  and  I'll 

my  little  Wife.    Won'iyou?"  ^      by  you'll  be 

funny  that  h^^ve  it  ?     '^'^H«^r  so  remarkably 

J  and  saH  apologetically;         /^*^      snort  by  »n  effort, 

"Thfere  !  don't  cry,  sis :  I  wasn'f  la..«fc'  * 

say,  Miss  Hairar  »  he  arfH  J       f  '/*"«bing  at  you.    I 


?' 


-A 


^ 


ti9      THE    TIGRESS    ANP   THE    DOVE, 


V 


to9pbooI?    I'll  'tend  to-her  as  carefully  as  if  she  was 
my  (Jaughter.    See  if  I  don  V  ^ 

A  grim  sort  of  smile  relaxed  the  rigid  muscles  of 
Miss  Hagar's  iron  face  as  she  glanced  benignly  at  his 
merry,  thoughtless  face  over  the  top  of  her  spectacles. 

"Yes,  she  may  go  with  you,  and  the  Lord  will  blesa 
.you  for  your  good,Tcind  heart,"  she  said,  laying  her  hand 
fondly  on  his  curly  beadl  \ 

Archie,  ^^hrowing  up  bis  cap  in  the  exubeninci^his 
glee,  said ;---"-;— T--""^-^---—---^  — -^ — r-'..-,    ^S^- 

"  Run  and  get  ready,  sis,  and  come  along.? 

"No;  wait  until  to-morrow,"  said /Miss  Hagar. 
"  She  carinot  go  to-day." 

"AH  right ;  to-morrow,  then,  you've  to  make  your 
debut  in  the  school  of  St.  Mark's.  Isay,  Miss  Hagar, 
what  shall  we  call  her?  not  your  naijae^Dedley's  too 
dismal."  ■•■."■'''.  .•■'.''■'-/■'  '■_„■  '.  "  %■  ,*  >. 

"No ;  call  her  Pearl— she  «  a  pearl,"  said  Miss  Hagar, 
while  her  voice  became  as  gentle  as  such  a  voice  could. 

^fVery  well,  Celeste.     Pearl  then  be  it.    And  so,  - 
Celeste,  be  ready  bright  and  early  to-morrow  morning, 
'^?^,^®'"  ??^y  Sunset  Hall,  and  call  for  Gipsy  and 
"touls.    By  the  wajr,  j^u  haven't  seen  Louis  yet,  have 
you?"  \  -.         ^ 

"No,"  said  Celeste.  -  ^ 

"Oh,  then,  you  must  see  him,  decidedly,  to-morrow.  ' 
But  mind,  you  mustn't  go  and  like  him  better  than  you 
do  me,  because  he's  better-looking.    J  tell  you  what, 
Httle  sis,  he's  a  capital  fellow,  and  j^  clever ;  he's  ahead 
of  e^ery^llow  in  the  academy,  and  beats  me  all  to  I 
smaspL  because  Pm  not  clever  at  anything  except  riding  ^ 
and  shooting,  and  Pm  his  equal  in  those  branches.    So 
now  Pm  off— good-bye  !"         \ 

And  with  a  spring  and  a  junlp,  Archie  was  out  of  the 
room  and  dashing  along  the  road  at  a  tremendous  rate. 


II 


M^ 


fK  K 


■V 


let 


-      her  white  rnuslif  d^esalL'r  whT  ""'?  '""  '""""d  "• 

info  the-hall  dZ  *      ''"""°«^ "'"  » ««iriwind 

\     U  a  *^  moments  he  ^appeared,  accp«pa.aed  bjr 

.unihtoe  rested'  l"f j  g,oV^.  "JlJ^'i?^  »°'»'"(r 

impetUousIy,.n^'^"""*"f^  ■'»'"«  forth  Louis, 

"  fla,  hai  iia !  a  decided  c«.i»  i*  i 
Come  ilong  and  111  intr^tctTou^  i^L'' Jl'  ^S""- 

Having  presented  th»  ^Ii^'    'J""' "w"  Archie. 

'  *«  .~..-  Ud  c«™,  ji,,  „^„ 


^ 


'  V 


-u  r 


'4, 


c  ■'^r^. 


d      ' 


'       .     > 


\         -^  • 


% 


M 


rt4      rjy^    TIGRESS    AND    THE   DOVE, 

Archie,  whbtn  she  had  learned  to  trust  in  like  an  old 

friend, 

'Tm  sketching  the  'Madonna  in  the  Temple'  (or 
Sister  Mary,  anid  your  sweet,  hply,  calm  face  will  do  ex- 
actly for  a  model/'  «aid  Louis.        #    -    • 

"That's  a  compliment,  sis,"^  said  Arehle,  pinching 

her   cheek ;" you'd    better   sit.    Hallo!   if  that  isn't 

Gipsy's  bugle  I    And  here  she  comes,  as  usual,  flying 

IHcetthe  wind.    If  she  doesn't  break  her  neck  some  day* 

..itwiil'be'a  wonden*'-. .,,,:  •/^'■.  ■; 

As  he  spoke,  the  clear,  sweet  notes  of  a  bugle/re- 
sounded musically  among  th^  hills  above  them;  and 
the  next  moment  the  spirited  little  Arabian,  Mignonne, 
came  dashing  at  a  break>ii6ck  pace  down  the  rocks,  with 
Gipsy  on  ^is  back,1a  fc^fling-piece  dung  over  her  shouU 
der,  and  sitting  her  Iidrse  as  easily  as  ttiough  she  were, 
in  an  easy-chain  With  a  wild  *<  tally-ho !"  she  cleared  a 
yawning  phasin  at  a  l>ound,  apid  reined  her  horse  in  so 
suddenly  that  I^e-^nearly  fell  back  on  his  haunches.  The 
next  instant  she  was  beside  them,  laughing  at  Celest^ 
who  tlungf^pale  with  feai^to  Archie.  L  A;  - 

"\^hat^luck  this  morning,  Diana?"  es^qlaimed 
Archie.        1  ,^^ 

"  Pretty  well  for  two  hours.  I^k  !'*  jMdd  Gipsy, 
displaying  a  well-£lled  game-bag.  %     / 

"  Did  you  kill  those  birds  ?"  inquired  Cel^^  lifting 
her  eyes  in  fear,  not  unmixed  With  borrcMri  ta  the  spark- 
ling face  of  the  young  huntress.  -     " 

*'Tobe  sure!  There!  don*t  look  so  horror-struck, 
I  declare  if  the  little  coward  doesn't  look  as  if  she 
thought  me  a  demon,"  said  Gipsy,  laughing  at  Celeste's 
sorrowful  face.  "  Look  !  do  you  see  that  bird  away  up 
there,  like  a  speck  in  the^sky?  Well,  now  watch  met 
bring  it  dpwu;"  and  Gipsy,  iBxing.her  eagle  eye  on  the 
distant  speck;  took  deliberate  aim. 


J 


:r^'- 


k. 


0       ritS    T^ajl^SS  AJfD    TBS  i>oyi    .., 

,  Wounded  aad  bleedioc   th»  h!,!J  v 

fall,  aqd,  with  a  wild  sS'c.rJ'^K*^"  rapidlyto 
««d  fell  to  the  ground  '  "°  ""5"  "P  ■>«"•  "■»». 

ecle,S^'SZ'(i'i'"'r<":;'  «•'«>  *c  life  but  „^ 
1^.  PJ^  at^S^^^^  -  *«*'•  nU»d 

""    watchSll?  ttaW.little  creature  I"  thought  K«r»fc» 
V'S? ^hl'i,""^"?"? ~"""'>»i»«ly  to  Archie.      ^"     ' 

J*  There,  liouis,  the  bird  has  lodired  ih  *Ko*  * 
and  get  it  for  her."  »»  wagca  iki  that  troo ;  go^ 

Louis  darted  off  to  search  the  tttk  »^a\  m 
ing  down,  said,  rather  im^tienL^  ^^  Gipsy,  stoop. 

^^^  <^«'«stc,  don't  be  such  a  little  i^n«« »  \mfu 
i»armisittoshootabird>-^ver,S^^^^^  Wh^ 

>  *U  don  t  think  it's  riffh^Mt's  ^r^^^r^S^ 
doitany.ore/»said(i&/^eSi^-    ^^-sedoat 
Cant  promise,  dear?  Vmus^lJ^ethil,  ^  v 

rn^e';;^lf^!S.d«ui«''*^   ^^' 

have  it  for  a  pet."  '      ^         "^"^  *^***  M«WI 

^    "Oh,  thaiik  yon!  you're  wgood."  mid  f>l«.«     .i^ 
h'tn  such  a  radiant  look  of  eiS^S^^^**"^"* 
oan.e,he  gravity  „f  Master  RWe^  Ih^fc  itHt  "* 
tag  with  laughter  «'Ters,  who  felt  back,  roai^ 

•     ■  •     ■  ■.•:..■-..,.>..,.■■■■■ 


1^" 

----;-._ 

■»,      ' 

.,•■,■«■' ■^- . '' 

■f'- ■ 
-  »■■■  ■■ 

-  \ 

•r--- ■ — „.__  j 

i 

X"' 


ip-s 


,:.u'tiJii;,.'ijJ 


ii6      TffJS    TIGRESS   AND  ^  THE   J)OVE.   Z 

"I  sax,  Louis,  what  do  you  think  of  her  ?"  said  Archie, 
poitating  to  Celeste. 

"I  think  she  is  perfectly  bewitching— the  lovdiest 
Creature  I  ever  beheld,"  replied  Louis,  regarding  ^er  with 
the  eye  of  an  artist.  "  She  reminds  me  of  a  lily— k  dove, 
fo  fair,  and  white,  and  gentle." 

"  And  Gipsy,  what  does  she  remind  you  of?"  / 
"  Oh  !  of  a  young  Amazon,  or  i^  queen  eaglet  of  the 
mountains,  so  wild  ^nd  untamed."  '•       .   '         / 
^     "And  Minnette,  what  is  she  like?"  -i 

-~^»lU<iteejL,tigress,  more  than  anything  else  I  can  think 
of  just  now,"  said  Xoms;  liaugKtiSlft^^l^ 
rather  dangerous  when  aroused." 

"  '-  ^'Aroused  !  I  don't  think  she  could  ^  aroused,  she  is 
'made  of  marble."     ^  •  / 

**  Not  she.  As  Miss  Hagar  says,  th&  day  will  come 
when  she  will,  she  must  feel ;  everyone  does  sometime 
in  his  life.    What  does  Scott  say ;  ^  , 


▼(I 

f 


""   ;■  "*  Hearts  are  not  flint,  and  flints  ue  cent; 

'         ": ■^-..,  Hearts  ate  not  steel,  and  steel  is  bent**    ' 

**  Well,  if  you  take  to  poetry,  you'll  keep  us  here  all 
day,"  said  Archie,  rising.    *' Good-bye^  Gipsy ;   come 
■along Celeste !"  ,■:■;       ■;.■: ■'■  ,-:-i:,-''^-  :,. v .■.'-. ^-■^,:-. 

.  •  ■♦        -*  ♦       '  *::S:'_  •    :'  ■'■■^■'■■-  S^^^^^^ 

True  to  promise,  lL.oui8  adopted  tW ,  wouniied  bird ; 
and  under  his  skillful  bands  it  soon  recovered  and  was 
presented  to  Celeste.  She.  would  have  set  it  free^  but 
Louis  said :  *'  No ;  keep  it  for  my  sake.  Celeste."  And 
so  Celeste  kept  it ;  and  no  words  can  tell  how  she  grew 
to  love  that  bird.  It  hung  in  a  cage  in  hdr  chamber,  and 
her  greatest  pleasure  was  in  attending  it.  Minnette 
hated  the  very  sight  of  it  That  it  belonged  tp  Celeste 
wmil^Juive  been  enough  to  make  her  hale  it;,  but  added 


■■■y*-   ^--^.'i-l-V- 


I 

^1 


TffB    TIGXMSS    AND    TBB   DOVS.      tx\ 

to  that,  it  had  been  Riven  Iier  hir  r  ™.i.  r.  . 

only  living  being  Mi„^e«e  had  evemtd  toT""*'  ""! 
jealousy  added  tenfold  to  her  ha"  ed    '        ^^ '  """* 

.he-oTn?d'rhe'l*:°al?°";  ""rr '» «•"  """"i-. 

.nddelibete™2:  twisted  l"fr^  most  fiendish 
to  Celeste,  point.S  to  i7wi  h  m^i  ^  ""'^  """•  8°'»K 
ling  in  he;  Lid.  black  eyes     ^*"'""  tnumph  spark- 

-     While  she  ii^as  still  sobbiniras  if  her  h*»o.* 
break,  a  pair  of  strowo-  or«,    ^      !  "®*'^  would. 

"Did  the  cat  get  auf^      '         "  Loms.  taking  i,  „j, 

<•  ^Ir  »l7f  °V''« <»'.•  i«  w«»-it  waa— -•• 
«n!^  **."*  ^°""'  wWle  his  dark  eves   fli«h,^ 

ti^'s :2L°'"' '"" «"  ""'  "  '    Did  Min„«t^hat^':j 

With  her,  please ;  ifs  so  drea<ttri  ?•      '  '"*'^ 


iA\ 


TT 


If.-    -  J 


./       .-1 


mt^< 


^-> 


.1-7'     ■'!  '4\ 


r  K 


n8      rJW    TIGRSSS  ^IfXk    TMB  DOVS. 


■;?^ 


.**  You  little  angel !"  he  said,  smdothing  gently  herfair. 
liiir;  "no,  %ox  your  sake  I'll  not.    Never  mind,  donjE 
cry ;  I'll  get  you  another,  twice  as  pretty  asihat !"    ^^  '^■ 

"  No,  Louis ;   \  don't  want  any  more !    Td 
have  the  dear  birds  free  I    And  now,  Will  you-^i 
bury  poor  birdie?"  said  Celeste,  almost  chokin 
eflfoit  to  be  "  good  and  not  cry."  ^  :    ^ 

"  Yes.;  here's  a  nice  spot,  under  the  rose-bush,"  said 
Louis ;  "  arid  J'll  get  a  tombstone  arid  write  a  nice  ^itaph. 
And  you  mtist  console  yourself  with  the  belief  ^t  ij's 
happy  In  the  bird's  heaven,  if  there  is  such  a  {place," 
added  Louis,  as  h6  phiced  poor  "  Birdie  "  in  ^  list  rest- 
ing-plaace.        ■  .'k^  '  .'  !.,;:■". 

Half  an  hajp'after.  Celeste  iMi^hf  the  presence  of 
Minnette:  She  fqund  her  sitting  by  the  window,  her 
chin  resting  on  her  hand,  lis  was  Jier  habit,  gazing  out 
She  did  not ^ turn  round  as  Celeste  entered;  but  the 
latter  went  up  softly,  and,  placing  her  hand  on  herk  said 
gently;  ;    ,       ^  7 

"  Minnette,  Fm  afraid  you're  angry  with  me  ?l  I'm 
verj^  sorry ;  please  fpigive  me  ?" 
'    Minnette  shook  her  roughly  off.,  exclaiming : 

"  Doa't  bother  me^  you  little 
of  this!"         ,4.  . 

"Yes;  but  oinly  say  you. fo 
indeed,  Minnette^  I  didn't  m^  To 
|o,love  you,  if  jtou'U  let  me !" 

^   •*  Lpv^  I"  exclaimed  Minnette,  springing  fiercely  to  ?ier 

'   her  black  eyes  gleaming  like  fire.  J*  You  artful 

h^lyxnite  \    You  consummate  little  ch^  ?    Don't 

to^S^f  ioyc  I    Didn't  I  see  you  in  the  garden,«wtth 

r^Pri^bund  LouiS  Oranmore;in  a  way  for  which 

you  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  yourself-r^complainjing  to 

him  of  my  wickedness  and  cruelty  in  killing  the  bir 

he  g^ve  you.  .  And  yet,  af  Iter  turning*  him  against  m^ 


\ 


-TET 


•m'^ 


'^ 


herfair.  H^ 


i/'said 
pitaph. 
bat  i^'» 
place," 
St  rest- 


ince  of 
\w,  her 
i|k  out 
It  the 
said 


ck 


OfPSr.AS^^J^ISffSS    TBS  NATIVas.  U9 

you  'oome  here,  Jad  tell  me  tou  lorn  m.  i    d 

rou  Miserable  H„e  be«^„    T^^i":?.-;  «^-^ 

one.  wi«.  .he  «r».,  „,  'ht  J«^ou.^.S^.:''d«r^^ 


t 


\\ 


CHAPTER  Xim 

OIPSyfASTONISHES  THI  NATIVEat 

"^  mighty  «l.<*i,fg,ad.fc^„^,.^^^^ 


4 IJ 


furnished 


I    headed,  wild-ejred,  fearles.  Gipsy  Gower^ 
'y^'^J^.t'^,     Not  one' Lt.r»l 

thrust  ol^n  wit h^^rL-  r  '"'^  ^^^  ^^^'^  ^0"W  »« 

"""^y  were  never  at  a  l4  .»Tnow  tfil  d^  '^"' 
on  her  neiti  viai*    »k.»  k^  kuow  tne  donor.    If. 

nctt  yistt,  thigr  began  to  (bank  her  for  her  gift. 


; 


/ 


-    /:. 


-■■*•-. 


.^1 


„  -i  t 


f 


r 


o  ,  « 


i 

■I' 

t 

4 

I90 

GIPSY 

'\.jr-\--w^^ 


AStONISHES    TJm^  J^TIVES. 


jf-' 


"^^Gripsy  indignantly  denied  ail  ^^owl.e4ge  of  j,t,  and  posi- 
tively refused  to  listen  to  tl^em. 

Dr.  Wiseman,  who  Ws  a|>retty  extensive  land-owner,  \. 
had  several  tenants  in  the  remotest  part  of  the  village,  ' 
whom  he  forqed  to  pay  an  exorbitant  rent/ giving  them  ' 
'  to  understand  that  unless  they  piaid  it  on^me  very  day  it 
came  due,  out  they  must  go  !    One  evening,'  about  dusk, 
"^  Gipsy,   who  had  been  riding  out,  was  ov«ttaken  by  a 
storm  of  wind  and  rain,  and  sought  shelter  in  one  of  the 
..cottages.  . , 

On  entering  she  found  the  whole  family  in  deep  dis- 
tress. The  h^ad'of  the  family  sat  gazing  moodily  at  the 
fire :  his  wife,  surroutided  by  her  children,  was  weeping ; 
and  they,  followine^her  example,  had  set  up  a  clamorous 
cry.       ■  ;  * 

,        "Why,  what's  "up  now?    What's  the  nwttcr,  Mrs. 
Brown  ?"  inquired  Gipsy,  in  surprise. 

"  Oh,  Miss^<Mpsy  !  is  it  you  ?  Sit  down.  Alas,  it's 
the  last  timp  we  can  ever  ask  you  !"  said  the  ^oman, 
with  a  fresh  burst  of  tears.  ,    '  7  V 

"Why,  are  you  going  to  turn  me  out  the  next  time  I 

Cocfie  ?"  said  GipS3r^  taking  th^  proffered  seat.  - 

^'   "Heaven  forbid^, wjqM  ever^turn  you* out,  MiSs  Gipsy, 

afteir^all  you've'ddol^  for  us  !"  said  the  woman;  "Jjiit 

after  to-night  we'll  no  longer  have  a  roof  to  sheltermi!" 

,^  "  You  won't,  €h  ?    t)o  you  intend  to  set  fire  to  this  ^Id 

^ftnty,and  burn  it  dqiwn  T'  inquired  Gipsy.  \ 

"No,  no  ;  bu|_Dij.-Wiseman  was  here  for  his  r^ut 
(this  is  pay-day,.you  jknow),  and  we  haven't  a  cent  in  the 
house  to  give  him.  Mr.  Brown's  been  sick  |nostly  all 
summer,  and  all  we  could  make  it  took  to  fee4>the  chil- 
dren. And  now  Dr.  ^jtTiseman  says  he'll  turn  us  out,  to 
starve  or  beg,  to-morrow,"  replied  the  woman  through 
,  her  tears. 


-«.i' 


ha^^osedtenh.    '•  Did  ,ou  ask  hi.  .o  givcL  ti.e 
but  he  wouldn't.    He  saW  he  wouW^  •"°  ^""^  «"' = 

."  '^^Twrhiffe':^r^,rr'"'"^'-""p- 

more  passionately  than  ev«   ^  ^  ''  ""  ''°""'»  »ept 
/    at  lengr  '"  """^  '«-"3  paid  hin.  r  i„,„i^  Gips,, 
_      "^es,  all  but  US."  ._    _..     J .      ' 

;^Notfiv^„^,„utesago?"     ^  .  : 

^     .         V^hich  way  did  he  take?"  said  rj„ 

he,  f^.  and  beginning  to  iLZ,  ht^pTstr  "^'"^  '" 

He  went  over  tfanmisJ'  qhM  *u     P^^°^®- 
speaking  now  £6,1^^^  «  ,  ^  ™^^^  f  the  fire, 
was  afraid  to  be  robbed  if  hi        '         ^^"^^  t**®™  say  he 
he  had  all  the  money  he  J^/ ^ 
him."      ^    ,       /^oney  hegot  from  the  tenants  with 

;     "^"  rig^t,  thw,  Mrs.  Brown  m^.  d«o 

"P  heart ;  and  if  some  good  Ta^'r^^   .      '^°""^"-  ^"^P 

"Thank  you,  there's  no  necesstiv     t  *    i      , 
Mignonne's  back  than  with  all  rh^K^'   J  ^^^^  ^^^^^  ©n* 
^he  world  for  its  sins  for  .  h  ^      ""^^  '^'  ^^*^''  «ffl»cted 

pon't  despair."        ;"® '^^t,  as  the  shoemaker  said,  and 
The  last 


^"e^gst^  words  were  lost  In  the  Mtnriw^f     -   a 

'  'he  opened  thp  door     SnriZn  u  "^^""^  *°'^  '•«i°. 

♦puoor.    5>prmg,ng  on  the  back  of  Mig- 


'  V 


'"-■■v  ■  K 


laa  G/FSy   ASTONISffE^    TMS   NATIVES. 

noBoe,  she  turaed  his  head  in* the  direction  of  the. hills, 
and  sped  overlhe  ground  as  rapidly  as  her  fleet-footed 
Arabian  could  carry  her.  V^  '>^ 

Through  the  night,  an^  wind,  and  rain,  ov^  the  dan- 
gerous hilly  path  jc^^d  Dr.  Wiseman,  ^fi  scarcely 
felt  the  storm,  for  a  taKsman  in  the  shape  (»^^a  well-filled 
pocket-book  lay  pressed  to  his  avaricious^^eart.  Hi 
maire,  a  mw-boned  old  brute,  as  ugly  as  i^r  masj^i 
walked  along  slowly,  manifesting  a  sublifneY:on|i|iM{]^j 
for  storm  and  wfpd  that  would  have  done  the  h\art\ofi 
philosopher  good.     What  her  thoughts  were  aWut  it> 

uld  be  hard  to^ay  ;  but  her  master's  ran  on  m<^ney, 
robbers,  highwaymen,  and  other  such  "knights  of*^e 

•  roadj.    .  -^- -^ 

"JTh^  are  many  desperate  characters  in  the  village 
who 'know  I  have  a  large  sum  qH  money  about  me,  and 
who  would  no  more  mind-  waylaying,  robbing,  and  per- 
haps murdering  me,  than^  would  of  terming  the  Brown's 
out  io-morrow.  Luckily,  however,  they'll  think  I've 
taken  the  village  road,"  said  the  doctor  to  himself,  in  a 
-sort  of  soliloquy,  "and  so  m  escape  them.  But  this 
road  is  a  dismal  one,  and  seems  just  the  plaqe  for  a  ren- 
jdezvous  of  robbers.    Now,  if  a  highwayman  were  to 

step  up  from  behind  one  of  these  rocks,  and  cry ** 

\  Your  money  or  your  life !"  cried  a  deep,  sepulchral 
voice  at  his  ear,  with  such  startling  suddenness  that, 
with  an  exclamation  of  horror  and  fear,  the  doctor  near- 
"^iy  fell  from  his  seat. 

Recovering  himself,  he  strove  to  see  the  rubber,  but 
in  the  deep  darkness  and  beating  rain  it  \vas  impos- 
sible.   But  though  he  couldn't  see,  he  coiild  hear,  and 
I'tbe  sharp  click  of  a  pistql  distinctly  met  hi^«ar.  ^ 

"  Your  money  or  youi;  life !"  repeated  the  low,  hoarse 

•  voice,  in  an  imperious  tone. ;  /  li 


\ 


■  ;i.> 


<'^sr  Astoima^s  THE  j^AnvEs^^.^ 

his  temple  like  the  deadly  fans-  of  f.  P"'"*^ 

»y  Hfe,  forGod-s  «ke,  Zt^^,  ^^X  -    r^ V 
poor  man,  bat  you  shall  have  it  "  "^  " 

doc;o??;rmbi"di',;',ro:^L:'"'"r^  "^'■"<'-' «» "« 

groan  of  despairsi^e^^erS'-.h:",'"  ""''  "'*  ""cep 
the  daring  outlaw  ^'""'P  pocket-book  to 

:   erawl'^c^:""  '  ■»"*'  '«'«' '«  "«  Ko,"  cried  th,  „i,. 

».ght  s.ea  ^T^z:Ti:^^^^r-'^,^- 

Vnr  well,  thtu.    I  have  the  honor  to  wish  you 


•/ 


124  GIPSY   ASTQNISffMS    THE   NATIVES. 


'I  -V 


^ 


-    good-night.    If  you  don't  ride  straight  home,  I'll  send  a 
bullet  through  your  head." 

A  nd  xvith  this  cheering  assurance  the  robber  put  spurs ' 
to  the  horse,  and  rode  off  in  .thedirection  opposite  to  that 
leading  to  Deep  Dale.  ''"    x^ 

Little  need  was  there  ta>'«%hort  the  terror-stricken 

"~^doctof  to  ride  straight  home.      Never  before  had  the 

spavined  old  mare  fled  ov'er  the  ground  with  the  velocity 

she  did  th^t  night,  -and  Doctor  Wiseman  did  not  breathe 

freely  until  he  was  double-locked  in  his  own  Toom. 

The  Browns  j[^aid  their  rent  the  ne^t  day,  and  would 
no  longer  remain  tenants  of  the  doctor.  If  he  suspected 
any  one,  the  robber's  threat  caused  him  prudently  to 
remain  silent ;  but  his  wretched  look  was  an  unfailing 
subject  of  mirth  for  Gipsy  Gower  for  a  month  after, 
and  the  cunning  twinkle  of  her  eye  said  as  plainly  as* 
.words :  .  . 

•♦  I  know,  but  J  won't  tell" 

One  day,  Gipsy  fell  into  deeper  disgrace  with  the 
squire  than  had  ever  occurred  before.    In  fact,  it  was 
quite  an  outrageous  thing,  and  the  only  apologfy  I  can 
'offer  for  her  is,  that  she  meant  no  harm. 

The  Bishop  of  B.,  Senator  Long,  and  a  number  of 
distinguished  gentlemen  and  ladies  from  the  city  had. 
come  to  St.  Mark's  to  spend  a  few  days.     Squire  Erlis-. 
ton,  as  a  matter  of  course,  immediately  called  to  see  his 
friends,  and  a  few  days  after '  gave  a  large  dinner-party, 
to  which  they  were  all  invited. 

Tfie  important  day  for  the  dinner-party  arrived!/  Liz- 
zie was  up  in  her  room,  dressing.     Mrs.  Gower  was  su- 
perintending affairs  in  the  dining-room.    The  squire,  in 
Xfull  dress,  sat  alone,  awaiting  his  friends.    As  he  sat, 
-sleep  overpowered  him,  and  unconsciously  he  sank  into 
a  profound  slumber. 
While  he  was  snoring  in  peace,  little  dreaming  of  the 


/    / 


1    '    \ 


,  y 


GIPSY   JSTOMISH^S    THE    NATIVES.  12s 


4&te  awaiting  him,  that  little  imp  of  mischief,  Gipsy  en- 
tered.  One  glance  sufficed,  and  across  her  fertile  brain 
there  shot  a  demoniacal  project  of  mischief,  while  her 
whole  form  became  instinct,  and  her  wicked  eyes  scin- 
tillatedAvith  fun.  •  ^ 

Qmting  the  room,  she  returned  presently  with  a  b<^ 
of  lampblack  in  one  hand,  and  the  multard-pot  in  the 
oth^.  ■ 

Now,  Guar^y,  you  keep  stUl  a  little  while  till  I 
turn  you  into  an  .Indian  chief,  and  here  goes  for  your 
war-paint."  J      ^ 

So  saying,  th«  little  wretch  drew  a  streak  of  mustard 
across  his  nose,  following  it  by  a  similar  one  of  lamp- 
black.  And  so  she  continued  until  his  whole  face  was 
covered,  with  alternate  stripes  of  yellow  and  black 
scar^ly  able  to  repress  a  shout  of  laugT^ter-  as  she 
worked,  at  the  unspeakably  ludicrous  appearance  he  pre- 
sented.  -  ^  ^ 

Having  exhausted  her  supply  of  paint,  Gipsy  stepped 
to  the  door  to  survey  her  work,  and  unable  longer  to  re- 
strain  a  roar  of  laughter,  fled  to  her  room,  quivering  with  ' 
the  anticipation  of  the  fun  to  cooie. 

;    Scarcely  had  she  quitted  the  room  when  the  door, 
was   flung  open,  and,  in   pompous   tones,  the   servant 
announced:"  .^, 

"  De  Right  Reveren'  Bishop  of  B.,  de  Hon'ble  Senator 
Long  and  Mrs.  Long." 

^  And  the  whole  party,  half  a  dozpo  in  number,  entered 
the  apartment. 

The  noise  awoke  the  squire;  and  a  mpst  musical 
snore  was  mercilessly  interrupted,  and  ended  in  a 
hysterical  snort.  Starting  to  his  fefet  with  an  expression 
of  countenance  that  utterly  repudiated  the  idea  of  his 
having  been  asleep,  he  advanced  with  extended  Jmnd 
lowftiU  the  bishop.     Ihat  high  functionary  drew  baJ 


■  ( 


i 

% 


''  -CK 


said  .he  «fuirrtar„7„;  hu  r  f-  »h«^>thr  maBer?- 
yott  Lushing  at  ?"       ^  '  ^'""'  "»<'•:   "  What  are 

#-  swer^^fe^l-^l^^^^-Jhe  whole  party  .„. 

began  grinning  with  svmnatt^^.i     ^  '*^  ''"'"  ■"  '«t 
to  the  Hidicrousn^  of  wf  ?  ^'     "'*''•''  ""-^'-K  «>  much 

themselves  onXlortmfot^r''  """  ««»«">«* 
fee.  convulsions.  '°    *  °°<=''^js  and  sofas,  in  per- 

7  What  the  deucb  is  it  ?"  ^S^^*.  i*  • 
losiiig  patience.    "Vui  L^'^  ""  '^'"~'  "  '"' 
whit  the  matter  is?"         ^      "'"'«*  ""'  ''^  '«"w«  n>e. 

feqZ;::^:;,^"^.!^^^'  '»t<*mu.oi.s.ones. 
■Pfaker.  ^In  vain  he  aSH^l''"*  '"«*■:'>'  """"^  the 
h,yman  nature  to  wUhS'^.h^,^  •"■""*"'  "  ««= -ot  in 
Nek  i,  a  paroxysm'Sr:Ll':d";err  fo^eS"""  '^' 

if eakingforti; loude  "fan ever the°mr''r'"«='^'  "« 
f«l  upon  him.    Andth°rert,h,     '"     ''•'"^''"Saia 

Wjlowface,  tumingrrsmav  ?"""  "'"'  ""  ^^^ 
Us  round  bulle  -evM  ^idv  ,„  ^  J™"  °"*  '°  another," 
n  At  ihi,  moment  fhel^'''°P/""""'eir  sockets.  ' 

/a»d  Mrs.  Gow"  for.'::5r":^'i»"/j'-i«.  ^o-is, 

house,  attracted  bv  the  „,.il  k         •     *  ""fants  in  the      . 

momeiit  their  ^«  fill  on T:      "  '°'°  ""  "°"^    The 

his  feet  to  «ldSem  thi!  ^^T'  ^^  "'«'  «»««<» '» 

and,  a,  if  by  ontacco^'  ^hl  ,^'  °'  '"■!"■'*  vanisl.sdf 

broke  from^r  iT^dtll"-  "'°'"  °'  '""Shte; 

^    /"'"^""'■« '""np.  and  fume,      " 

-  /  .  ^ ^ 


f^ 

V 

^ffl^ESTS? 

I'SrJtffif™' 

''W 

' 

.  ■/•'» 


^r^ 


"^i 


n 


'v-,;i,t 


nione  in 
^  and  d 
leroonii 


,-■■*' 


tfcer,  itt- 
i^hatare 

rty  an- 
ir  sides, 

>  at  last 

>  mucli 
tlire# 

inper- 

at  last 
ng  me. 

tones, 
rd  tlie 
lot  in 
pfell 

'I 
ulsed 
%  but 
»gain  ; 
)Iack 
ther,' 
ts. 

ouis, 
the 
The 
d  to 
hsdf 
hter 
imfl; 


V 

A 


and  demand  to  knoW  what  wa,  fh- 


such  a  look  oTblaJk  ultJi  dul  ""f"  *"'  «"«»  «'"• 
previous  was  nSe  to  .h,''^'  """.  '^  "«'  '^OK"'" 
lowed, ha,  despawrgance     Th"'T'  '?»' ^'<=h 'ol- 
"It's  tha,  fiend  !i°U.SdfLj^      bursting  out  with : 
Jezebel  has  done  this  "  t T  k'T^ °"«  '-"»»  «"'« 
search  of  her.       .       '  ""''**  '«>•»  «'>e  >oom  in 

Gipsy,  attracted  bv  the  li»»h>»    u  j 
tiously  to  descend  the  sSfrifhT:  ^  ^^'"'"^  «'- 
«  Hke  a  flash  she  tu^eTto  fly  T^  "''"''f  "«'' 

turned  the  key,-3ut  it  in  hu^  ^  "■-'■* ''■r' '•«''•'■». 
the  house  int6  the  vL  k  ^^^  »'"'  "/»*«'  out  of 
soapandhotwater  J^  *  where,  by  the  friendly  aid  of 

Then,  returninj^  f«  h:„  *  Christian. 

<aushed\hrseirintf„rU':l'  th''™  '»"' 
laugh  no  longer— he  disoens^.L  «nat  they, could ' 

kicks  and  cuffs,'  and  pr«S  ^^:^^  ^^  """"r 
was  able,  how  1,  caCa^M  pi^  f  "'•*'  T"  ''  "^ 
party  to  make  every  effor?  to  Ll„f  °  t '?'  '°"*<'  ">« 
■nore  than  once,  whU^tM  |T,T"  ""''  «""''-  "« 
the dlnner-table  the«^l^,  ~'«?n<»»claTe  round 
crous  appeaZc'e  woS^ '!^  °"  °'  *"  "^  "an'a  ludi- 

blood-;nd,Sng  teckTet  ^  T'!''  '"  "'^^  ""d 

tear,  stood  nthei^^eaThXr^^    ""S""  ""'»  "«» 
tagiou^  th.whol.n^^^^J^  ■  ■  '?-P"  P^ov'-S  con- 


party  would  joia  in,  to  the 


great  Hop 


1  -  ■  ■  ■  -  •      ,- 

128  GIPSY   ASTOmSITES    THE    NATIVES,       ^ 

tification  of  the  squire—who  inwardly  vowed  that  Gipsy 
should  pay  dearly  for  every  additional  laugh. 

/But  for  the  squire  to  reckon  without  Gipsy  was  rather 
a  haaardous  experiment.  Seldom  did  that  young  lady 
find  herself  in  a  position  from  which  her  genius  would 
not  extricate  her— as  the  squire  found  to  his  cost  in  the 

present  instance.  - — i-r    _ 

f  Gipsy's  first  sensation  at  finding  herself  for  the  first 
time  really  a  prisoner  was  one  of  intense  mortification, 
followed  by  indignation  ;  and  her  thoughts  ran  some- 
what after  the  following  fashion  : 

"The  mean  old  thing  !— to  lock  me  up  here  just  be- 
cause I-applied  a  little  mustard  outside  instead  of  in- 
side! Nevermind;  if  I  don't  fix  him  for  it,  it'll  be  a 
wonder.  So  you'll  pay  me  for  this,  will  "you,  Guardy  ? 
Ah  !  but  ybu  ain't  sure  of  me  yet,  you  s^e.  If  I  don't 
outwit  you  yet,  my  name's  not  Gipsy  Roarer  Gower ! 
Now,  Gipsy,  my  4ear,  set  your  wits  to  work,  and  get 
yourself  out  of  this  black  hole  of  a  prison." 

Going  to  the  window,  she  looked  out.  The  sight 
would  have  appalled  any  one  else  ;  but  it  did  not  intim- 
idate Gipsy.  The  room  she  was  in  was  on  the  third 
jtory,  at  a  dizzy  height  from  the  ground.  She  looked 
around  for  a  rope  to  descend  ;  but  none  did  the  room 
contain.  What  was  she  to  do  ?  Gipsy  raised  herself  on 
one  toe  to  consider.     : 

Suddenly  her  eye  fell  on  a  new  suit  of  broadcloth 
her  guardian  had  brought  home  only  the  day  before. 
She  did  not  hesitate  an  instant.  ' 

To  her  great  delight  she  found  a  pair  of  scissors  in 
hei*  pocket;  and,  tsTking  the  coat  and  unmentionables    * 
from  the  wall  wher^  they  hung,  she  sat  down  and  dili- 
gently  fell  to  work  itutting  them  into  long^  strips.    Fif- 
teen minutes  passed,  and  nothing  remained  of  Giiardv's 


I 
1 

t 


/  .. 


K 


yi'v- 


^-       GffSy   AS^OmsSMS    the    NATrVES\.^ 
.      new  clothes  but  a  long  black  knotted  strinif-which  to 
-  pu^r  '''*"'■  ""'/°"""'  -aid  reach  isiTy't'tjl: 
J    Fastening  it  to  the  window-sill  securelr  «h^  k. 
Us^,  and  in^en  .inutes  s^  ^t^t^^^ 

wuh  unheard-of  audacity,  she  entererthe  t"^^^^^^^ 
the  dming-room  door,  dnd  thrusting  in  her  wicked  1^^^^^^^^ 
head,  she  exclaimed  exultingly  •  '"® 

leisure'^c^''*^'^''"  ^^"  'P^^'  ™^  ^"^  '^'"e  «  your 
leisure,  and  I  U  giye  you  a  receipt  in  full."  ^ 

^.\     'A  ^"'/orry  to  say,  making  a  hideous 'grimace 

:srh:fte!!:„S^to',?ng  ^stopTe'i'^r^^:  '^^ 

rushed  after  her  from  th^room         ^     "' '    ^'°P   ^erl" 

h«.t "'  l!^  ""^^  '^°  '^'^'  ^^'^^^^  ^«^Ped  upon  Mignonne's 
back  and  was  off.     Waving  heriw^  in  h,-  «•  \*»S"onne  s 

"hur™  r- she  da.heddo„„Vhr,^Ld  airj;^j:^f "' 

-of  thSr^onb^^^TK^^S^''-^  -  '"e1.teas. 
hemfhT       .  V°"'»""S  whether  it  was  all  a  delusion 
he  rushed  up  stairs  to  the  room.  The  door  was  stiil  fa«  •' 
and.  burning  „i,h  impatience,  he  opened  ir  And  .tj: 

.he  found  the  window  wide  open,  and  his  „ew  suit  co". 
verted  ,nto  a  rope,  which  still  dangled,  as  if  in  ^uUa 

Wh^.h^' "'•'''"'•    And  tl.e  mysterV  w«  Xd 
What  the  squire  Sa  d  and  did  ther/i.  ,.  „    i 

tu&'ishnn  r?^'"'"  ""S""  P™"-"  of ^he  over! 
orTn.     f  °'^      "'^  "°'  prevent  him  from  hurline  a 
Ne«r  had  '""""»«»,.'«»!"«  'he  unfortunate  g"pV 
Never  had  Squ.re  .Erliston  been  so  angry  in  his  U 


(  » 


■w  ■ 


f:^ 


-I. 
J30 


y^ 


THE    MOONLIGHT   FLITTIN^G, 

Inwardly  vowii!ig  that  slfc  should  repent  what  she  had.  / 
done,  t|ic  squirri  "  bided  his  time  "-—little  dreaming  how 
bitterlj^e  was  destined  to  repent  that  vow. 


'-^ 


-f- 


■•■'■•ait' 

■•-S: ' 

^^'-       \ CHAPTER  XIV, 
ilEiE  \moonlight  flitting. 

/  '  I  ■       -.'■)■■■  ■ ,  .■;•-'  '"■  .      . 

'  S!!*'  '*^*°  *^'''  ^"fif^'  **^8  ^««o  and  shrewd ;  * 

She  nras  a  vixen  when  she  weiljo  school,  "^ 

And  thouc^  she  is  but  little/ MJr'is  fierce.  "^ 

./  ".         ■"•'*''  .-•.-*.' 

|HE  ijboonlight  ^as  falling  brightly  on  the 
lam^n,  ^nd  shimmering  like  sil^' sheen  on 
the  leaves  of  the  horse-chestnuts,  as  Gipsy 
rode  home.  The  company  hadfust.di^ersed, 
and  the  squire  was  about  to  retire,  when  the 
;*  claUer  of  horse's  hoofs  on  the  graveled  path  made  him 
start  up  and  hasten  out  to  the  porch.  And  there  he  be- 
held the  audacious  Gipsy  riding  fearlessly  toward  him, 
shouting  at  the  top  of  her  lun^s  some  wild  chorus,  of 
which  he  oqly  caught  the  words :  j, 

'    .■ '  -■    .  -'        ■'■■,.*■     - '"  ■ 

"  You  must  place  in  my  coffin  a  bottle  of  red. 
And  say  a  good  fellow  is  gone.",  ^ 

« If  I  don't  pay  her  oflf  before  I 'sleep  to-night !"  mut- 
.^  tered  the  squire,  between  his  clenched  teeth.    "  I'll  put 
an  end  to  her  pranks,  or  know  for  why." 

Gipsy  leaped  lighdy-lVom  her  horse,  and  resigning 
^  him  to  Jupiter,  ran  6p  th\  steps,  and  encountered  the 
-Lpurple  face  and  ]>lagng  eyciof  hern 


;. 


rS^    MX>ONLIGBT   FLITTWO.        \^^ 

"Good-evening,  GuarcTy  f  was  her  salute.     "Nice 
nignt !  .  ' 

'  "  Stop  !••  said  the  squire,  catching  her  ^  the  arm  as 
she  was  about  to  run  past-^stop  I  I've  an  account  to 
settle  with  you,  my  lady  !"  m 

iM,**  ^\^^J  ^^^  *'  yo"»"  convenience,  Squire  Erliston  ; 
1 11  not  be  hard  on  you."/  ^ 

"Silence,  Miss  Impertinence  !    You  have  the  irn'ou- 
dence  of  Satan  to  face  me  after  what  you  have  ione  !" 
Now,  Guardy;  don't  be  unreasonable,  but  look  at 
°     ainT""''*'  '°  *■*  ^''***^''  ^'^^^'-  ^"  fwhionable  people 

'     '1  Silence  "*  exclaimed  the  squire,  in  a  voice  hoarse 
with  rage.    «  Silence  J  before  I  brain  you,  you  little  vil- 
lain !    You  have  made  me  the  laughing-stock  of  the 
country  for  miles  around.    I  can  never  dare  to  show  mv 
face  after  what  has  occurred,  without  being  jeered  and 
mocked  at.    And  all  through  you-the  creature  of  my 
bounty^the  miserable   little  wretch  who  would  have 
been  a  common  street-beggar  if  I  bad  not  clothed,  and 
fed,  and  edrfcated  you  .'-through  you,  you  brazen-faced, 
good-for-nothing    little    pauper,  whom   I  would  have 
kicked  out  long  ago  to  the  workhouse  where  you  belong. 
If  I  had  not  feared  the  opinion  of  the  world.    Begone-, 
from  my  sight,  before  I  am  tempted  to  brain  you  »"  i 

His  face  was  perfectly  livid  with  the  storm  of  passion 

^  IJk*  u  ^''^^T'"''"^^^^  ***"''«^^-  A«  he  ceased,  he 
Taised  his  hand  and  brutally  struck  her  a  blow  that  sent 
her  reeling  across  the  room.  \     ^^^       ^ 

Wit??!I  **l '?'?  ^^T*""  ^"  ^^  fi«7  naturfrwas  arousec^ 
With  the  shriek  of  a  wounded  panther,  she  leaped  t^I 
ward  him,  with  clenched  hands,   blazing  eyes,    hard- 
ground  teeth   ghastly  face,  convulsed  brow,  and  eye* 
that  fairlx^santiUatfidsparka^of  fire.    ^'    '     " 


.\._^ 


,) 


1-. 


,^ 


-■   f 


THE    MoSnlt6%T   flitting. 


febtlitde  fiiendidlif  she  glared  upon  him,  quivering  in 
Wery  nerve  witfi  frenzied  passion.        ' 

>    The  old  sinner  drew; back  appalled,  frightened  into 
calmness  by  that  dark,  fierce ; face.     For  a  moment  s^  / 
^    expected  she  would  spring  at  his  throat  like  a  tigress  and 
_  Strangle  him.     But,  with  a  long,  wild  cry,  she  clasped 
her  hands  above  her  head,  and  fled  swiftly  upstairs,  dis- 
appearing like  some  elfin  sprite  in  the  darkness  beyond^., 
'*Gbod  Lord  !"  muttered  |he  squire,  wiping  thcdropsT 
of  terror  off   his  face.     "  What  a  perfect   little  devil  I V 
Did  ever  anyone'  see  such  a  look  on  a  human  face  be- 
fore!     It's  my  opinion  shejs  allied  to  Qld  ;^ick,  and  will 
carry  me  off  some  night  in  a  brimstoh^  of  cloud  and 
fire^I   mean    a    fire   of   cloiid  and    brim^one.     Good 
—gr^ious  !  Tm  palpitating  like  a  hysterical  girl.    I  never 
got  suth  a  fright  in  my  life.     I  vow  it's  a  datiger  to  go 
to  bed  with  that  desperate  little  limb  in  the  house.     I 
shouldn't  wonder  if  she  set  the  place  on  fire  about  our  ^ 
ears  and  burned  iis  all  in  our  beds,  or  cut  our-throats,  or 
something.    She  looked  wild  and  crazy  enough  to  do  it. 
Well,  I  reckon,  J'll  be  rnore  careful  how  I  chastise  her 
for  the  future,  that's  certain."  ^ 

So  saying,  the  squirb  took  his  night-lamp  and  went^ 
off  to  bed,  taking  the  precaution  to  double  lock  his  door, 
lest  the  "little  imp"  shduld  t^ke  it  into  her  head  to  carry  > 
him  off  bodily  during  the  night.  \'      <  * 

^No  such  catastrophe  occurred,  however,  ancl  when 
the  squire  went  down  to  breakfast,  he  found  everything 
-going  on  as  usual.    Lizzie  lay  on  a  lounge,  immersed 
in  the  pages  of  a  novel,  and  Louis  sat  by  the  window     V 
busily  sketching,  as  was  his  custom. 

"  I  say,  Lizzie,  have  you  seen  anything  of  Gipsy  this    - 
moi:ning  ?"  he  inqilired,  as  he  <pntered. 
-  "No,  papa."' 

"I'd  rather  think  shft  fndft  0ff  before  any  of  u&- 


I"- 


••\  raa   MOOmtGHX   PUTTING.  L 

Whether  Gipsy  ^  „.::^  Ce  t  ^n^^J'*^" 

Ves,  yes,  to  be  sure  Shi' did     'Ni»-iifhJr        i 
a"  stragglers.-  as  Solomon  Lyl     WhW"  ^  ^'""- 

nigirt^"''  ""t""'  »«'  »l«P«in  herbedthelivelo^ 
can  she  have  gone  ?"  *  ^"^'^® 

^»;;i:^d^:ra(ifct^  Ktf  ^- 

;  Clasping  her  hands:         .  /  '   ^"-  ^°^®'^' 

young  Rivers,  noJWe'U  knot."^  '  **''  ~"'" 

,,    "Archie,  my  dear,"  said  Mrs.  Gower  asihLt  „„ 

"Go  laelci    Why,  of  course  she  didn't."      . 

,L,  ?  •  ^"'"  ^""'onryou  hear  that.    Oh,  where  can 
that  crazy  creature  liave  sone  r  n^i.in,»<  m      ^ 

twisting  her  fingersln  diS   '     ^"""'  **"•  ^°''""' 
}ArZ!l  JuSe."""^-' '^'^'""  g'P^r  asked 
.„/°''''u°"''*"°"-    She  came  home  late  list  iiiA.! 
went  lo  Bed  at  all,    Qh.  T  «m  mire  «ho  l^oo  ]nitu  killed. 


. '    ■■'^7  ■■ 


'('  ij  ^1        V       .  "■».% 

,'<*         1''  •'  t"  ..  Id    ,  Hi 


to    » 


*i|.^ 


#...■"•" 


\..i 


i:# 


<m 


^-"v^ 


—I 


J34  T^£    J^OOjVZiaffT  '  FLITTING, 


-~  -r-' - 


«|:. 


■}W 


W- 


r-- 


or  drowned,  or  s!«)t,  ,or  something  I    t  always  knew  it 
would  happen,"  an<^  Mrs.  Gower  faltly  began  to  cry. 

^  Knew  what  w<^ld  happen  ?"  paid  Arciiie,i)erplpxed 
and  aldrmed.  s,/  ■..■:'-<  f         ,     '^ 

^^"Spmething  or  other.    1  ah^ajte  said  it ;  and  now 
^^^^^^9<mt  true/'  replied  Mrs.  Gower  sobbing.^ 

fo  J.??  K*  ^''^*"' T'*""' ^"**^  "»«^ '«"  yo"'  you're  a 
fool!    broke  out  the  squire. ;"  Most  likely  she  didn't' 
feel  sleepy,  and  rode  oflF  before  you  were  out  of  your 
hed  this  morning,  just  like  the  young  minx.     Ring  the 
bell,  and  w^e  11  see, what  time  she  started."  ^  ^    ^ 

-*      f^^^^^^^^y^f  and  Totty  made  her  appearancbi 
'■:■■      ;Tott,'  said  the  master,  "be  off  with  you,  and  send 
Jupiter  here  immediately."     f  /        '     * 

.  Tojty  dticked  her  wooly  head  by  way  of  reply,  as  she 
ran  off,  and  presently  Jupiter  made  his  appearance  in  evi- 
dent  trouble^ 

^.  "  -^"P®'  y'o"  Wack  rascal,  what  time  did  Gipsy  ride  off 
this  morning?"  asked  the  squire.  , 

**  Please,  mas'r,  it  waro't  dis  mornin'  she  rid  off,"  said  " 
Jupiter  holding  the  door  ajar,  in  order  that  he  might  re- 
treat if  his  magter  grew  violent.  ,  V 

•^"What  <fo  you  diWn,  sir?"  roared  his  master,  in 
nsing  terror.  * 

"•Deed,  mas'r,  1  couldn't  stop  the  vountf  wixcn— dT 
young  lady,  I  Jnean-sbe  don't  mind  me,  no  hdw,  she 

"Nor  anybody  else,  for  t1i^t  matter,"  m-oan^  the 
squire,  inwardly. 

"  You  see,  mas'r,  arter  she  come  home,  I  tuk  Minnon 
inter  de  stable,  and  'gan  rubbin'  him  down,  'cnfce  he  was 
all  in  a  foam  she  dene  rid  him  so  hard.  Well,  'bout  half 
ftn  hour  arter,  as  I  was  goin'  to  bed,  I  hears  a  noise  in  de 
yard,  a^  when  I  look*  out,  dar  waa  Miss  Gipsy  takin'  de 


^, 


f^» 


.1" 


■  "V,, 


1^ " 


A 


.  i 


;^-(- 


v^ 


■'*^^ 


^»^    MOONLIGHT   FaXTING, 


'\ 


agony  of  remorse  and  soLT  °^A„7r  f?"  '"  "" 
from  home,  old  monster  °L  I  ^m  .  V"  ''['"''  y"" 
•  alligator !  a  crocodile  >  a  wrarh-H  ""  '-^"'  »  brute  !  an 
able,  forsaken  old  sinner  Snf  t  "  Vf*  '  »  ""■»'- 
that  dare  say  to  the  contra.t"',''  '^['^^^  down  any  man 
plague!  where  are  you  now?  M  j"^  ?' "J"***'''''''' 
•aglet-  friendless  in^e  wWe  wo^fd-  '.^  """  ""■» 
oght  of  Jupiter  still  standing  i„ThidLK'*'*""» 
ppon  him  and  shook  him  unfi  A-!  """'"^y.  he  rushed 

jaws  chattered  like  a  X^ci  tit s^rr '^''•^'' 
black  rascal  1  I  have  a  good  minrtr^k  'A''°'')'Ou,you 
your  worthless  skin     Wh«mr^       "*''*"""' hone  in 

.    ^Jhenyousawhergoingeht    Anr:r""''\""  "P'  '''^- • 
"  Mas'r-^a-ma-mks'r  .   *°"'"' "«  «hat  f       « 

half  strangled,  «-dLTr'    A""*"^  Poor  Jupiter 
■sturbye.  Mmtllfli-"^^!?.'''  '  -»  'frard     ' 

■^'•t,^z^  -'aS  7o  yo-fstop  r4' 

«ay».    We-n  h^e  h?  ho,ir '^""^  »""-' ji  SeJonf™ 

_  night,  or  my  name's  Z«"'''°''°J?>*'"»hed  before 

Ha !  Ihere  ."LoCfsTAi^L^'^lJ^''"*'  ^riiston. 

off!    And  Mrs."  Gower   mir^?^"' ^°"'  "ouotand 

«ad^^,hor,,and.inrhrVo1.V:Mindrwr 

^«o;n?v"rr<^-'s?e;^„rTorrv- 


"  Well,  fl.  auU  leM  fiZ/  ;   u^  °^  '*^'^- 

'""'    "" ■■'•  '"'" 


^3^  THE   MOONLIGHT   FLITTING. 


^^'  ^  T  '''^^  ^°'  with  Louis  ala  young  Riv^i,  at 
^e^r  head,  to  scour  the  country.     '  In  the  days  when  we 
went  gipsying/ as  Solomon  says.     I  do  believe  that  little 
minx  will  be  the  death  of  me  yet-I  know  she  will !    I'm 
I      Gsing  flesh  ;  I'm  losing  temper;  I'm  losing  cash!  I'm 
losing  rest,  and  losing  patience  every  day.     She'll  brings 
my  gray  hairs  in  sorrow  to  the  grave,  as  Solomon  says, 
only  I  happen  to  wear  a  wig.     Ah  I  there's  my  horse 
lJJT^^ ''  ^    ^'^'^   Gower^you  little  torment,  you, 
«'^  / 1  tell  you  a  piece  of  my  m'ind  when  I  catch  you  »" 
But  the  squire  was  destined  not  to  catch  her;  for. 
though  they  coiuitiued  th^earch  for  the  lost  one  until 
night,  no  trace  of  her  could  be  found.    All  that  could  be 
earnedofherwas  from  an  innkeeper  in  a  neighboring 
town,  some  twenty  miles  distant.     He  said  a  young  mrj 
answering  the  description  given  of  Gipsy,  had  arrivci 

h  Ji  Tu'  If^"^*"''  ^°^'  ^^'^''  ^^'^'"S ^  »^^sty  breakfast, 
had  left  her  horse-which  was  utterly  exhausted  by  the 
pace  with  which  she  had  ridden  him-and  started  in  the 
iDail  coach  for  the  city.        . 

^Mignonne  was  led  home,  and  as  it  ^as  too  late  to  go 
farther  that  day  the  tired  horsemen  returned,  silent  and 

£' ^'-  'JTT"^-  ^*^^  "^*'  ^^y  'he  search  was  re- 
newed,  and  the  driver  of  the  mail-coach  questioned  con- 
cerningthe  Irtth.  fugitive.  He  could  throw  but  little 
light  on  the  subject ;  she  accompanied  him  as  far  as  the 
city,  where  she  paid  her  fare  and  left  him.  And  that 
was  all  he  knew. 

,  Placards  were  posted  up,  and  rewards  offered;  the 
po  ice  were  put  upon  her  track  ;  but  all  in  vain.  And 
at  last  all  hope  was  given  up,  and  the  lost  child  was  re- 
signed to  her  fate.  r    ^;  "^"'  '^'^ 

One  day^  about  three  Weeks  after  hef  flight,  the  post- 
man  broug^a  letter  for  Mrs.  Gower.  One  glance  at 
tha  ,upu.urptluu,  auU  wUm;  ciy  ot  joy  she  tore  it  open 


k 


i 


I'm 


> 


for  it 


»37 


ran  as 


r^S   MOONLIGHT   FLITTING, 
-^as  mtheilght,  careless  hand  of  Gipsy.    It 

"My  Dear,  DARLmb  Aunty  -r  c. 
had  great  times  up  at  Sunset  Hrn-       ?P°'®  ^^^  ^^^e 
light  flitting  of  it     I  wish  I  K^f  k""*'^  '  ™^^«  a  n^oon. 

'"n      I -PPose  Qua  d7t^^^^^^^ 

"P  Jupiter,  and  blesseLnft^r  1  7^''^'^'  ^"^  '^^^^ 
you  know,  aunty,  I  just  could n^^^?  "^^  ^'^^^'  ^«". 
gfetting  so  unbea'^abrtLr:!  no  :  LL.^'r '^-- 
I  m  going  to  take  Gipsv  Gov^Vr  "°  ^'*°^»"&  ^^^.  and  so 
patronage,  and  make^agdo^^^^^  <^«P^cial 

now,  aunty,  because  Vlf  Ske  ''V°^  ^^''  ^°°  '  ^e  angry, 
seIf--seeifIdon't  I^iirf.P'^^'^^'S^^^^  care  of  my- 
fear  it  might  bria^  on  f^  ^"^'"^y  »<>'  to  make  a  fuss,  for 

searching  for  m^for  if  h/r'  ^"^  '""  ^^"^  »«'  ^o  keep 

facehewonVfinV^e     pLrJ!.'"'  ^''^  '^"^^  ^"  '^« 
Louis,  and  Ceiesttd-aTd^l^"^^^:,^  -cl 

fall  in  love  with  anybodv  else  •  ifT*  ^         ^""^^^^  "«'  '<> 

•ccount.     Mis.  Gower  wen.  f„   i.  ^^^    trouble  on  her 
and  would  no,  be  comfo'^^  °J  ?*^'*'."i"e  unceasingly, 
and  lay  on  her  lounee  frtJm  m       •      '*''*"*  "nd  yawned, 
drearier  than  ever   fLX  ""■""«*»'  "ight,  looking    f 
»dne„  about  their  dfilvl^r^V" '"  '""«  and    l 
shedding  a  tear  ovir  e«^  "T'^  ''r'''«  "  ''ek  »»<»  ' 
Gipsy.    Now  ,hat'hew^"*"T*,'"'-*°'"*<' poor 
they  loved  her,  in  spiteTf  af^^h    ^  '''"°''  ^°^  ^^^7 
she  had  ever  cist  them  ""  *="«»»  «»<>  'WuWes 


sion  from^ 


'ng  Qvftr  tho  nmu- 


ingo 

* 

'door,  and  lyingTaandouT.;""' 

■■■.,■■        .     ■":",.      ■  >f,.                           ...:,:.-    ..._   %.   ■        t 

..<*.'.:',                '         t 

"  "-■"-"-"-.:— ^-'-             -  ■.-  -TT-^^,.^ 

.1  '■ 


►      • 


■  «■■ 


■  ( 


■lif' 


'^ 


>38  T^E    MOONLIGHT   FLITTING^         ' 

dtairs,  antd  scoldings  and  shouting,  and  singing  allin  ofte 
>  burst,  noWl    The  squire  was  blue-molding — ^fairly  "run- 
ning to'seed,"  as  he  mournfully  expressed  it — for  waalt 
of  his  little  torment.  :    , 

'  No  one  missed  thfc  merry  liltle  elf  more  than  tlie  lusty  . 
old  squire,who  sighed  like  a  furnace,  and  sat  un<i(i»*^ 
tiirbed  in  his  awn  arm-chair  from  one  week's  end  to  the 
other.  Sometimes  Louis  would  bring  over  Celeste,  who 
had  n^rly  wept  her  gentle  eyes  out  for  the  loss  of  bci^ 
friend,  to  comfort  him,  and  the  fair,  loving  little  crea- 
ture would  Mestle  on  a  stool  at  his  feet  and  lay  her 
golden  head  in  his  lap,  and  go  to  sleep.  And  the 
squire  would  '^caress  her  fair,  silken  curls  with  hfs 
greats  rough  hands,  and  pat  her  white,  dimpling  shoul- 
derii,  and  turn  away  wtth  a  half  groa^n ;  for  phe  was  not 
Gipsy!-  ■'.:,/•"■■..  ■.>''/  -.    < :^s  •  ■,  ;     ;  ,5^  .. 

As  for  poor  Archie,  he  took  to  wandering  in  the  woods 
and  shooting  unoffending  birdsi  and  rabbits,  because  it 
was  Gipsy's  favorite  sport,  and  looked  as  doleful  as 
tbqugh  he  had  lost  every  frienrf  in. the  world. 

"5^all  in  love  with  any  one  else,"  indeed!  Master 
Archie  scorned  the  idea,  and  began  to  have  sundry 
visions  of  joining  the  monks  of  La.Tra|>pe  as  sQon  as 
he  grew  old  enough.  This  and  his  other  threats  of 
going  to  sea,  of  enlisting,  of  killing  somebody,  by  way 
of  rejieving  his  spirits,' kept  poor  Celeste  trembling  with 
fear  for  him  from  morning  till  night.  Apd  in  her  own 
gentle  way  she  would  puP  her  arms'  found  his  neck  and 
cry:,  on  his  shoulder,  and  beg  of  him  not  to  Say  sucti  ^ 
naughty  things,  for  that  Gipsy  would  come  back  yet— 
she  knew  that  she  would. 

-But  Minnette,  who  didn't  care  a  straw  whether  Gipsy 
ever  came  back  or  not,  would  iaugfa  her  short,  deriding' 
Jaiiigh.jnd  advise  him  ta  fiecome  a  Sistgr  of  CMsMty-»^ 


once.  And  Celeste  said  sfu  would  be  one  when  the  grew 


m-- 


i 


s 

J, 


\- 


■:,-p^.,: 


i 


up,  and  then  she  woiiH  K-  «i 

And  Minnette^  taunj  a^^aysTnt  T  ^^°°»^°«  ''im. 
the^woods  ia  a  mord  heart  bmt  ^°°'"  ^"^^^^  <>«  ^o 
ever  before.  f  eart-broken  state  of  mind  than 


Eis  sQon  as 


CHAPTER  XV.  • 

THE«STARoFTHEVALLBV/' 
Face  and  figure  of  a  chilH 

W  would  l«rfk„?..lB,„„^^^.: 


■>»  ■■ 


Thoogh  too  aJm'""  "i."  *'■'<•. 


il? 


'    ehill    winds    and    fro  .      ^°'"*'  "'"•  ""i"- 
Hagar  looked  at  the  IShT^'-S'-    "'» 

talk  of  keeping  her  at  home^  iastefrS""  ""  '^''»  «" 
?choo  during  the  „i„ter  moalhs  ''"'""K  ""■  ^ 

fish  tean,  that  had  ever  fiKm  h       "*  ""*  «"'  «'" 
It  was  «>  pieisan,  ;„  «i^^,  "^  '"'•  "^ra  m  her  lif^ 

young  faces,  and  with  th^hi"*   ~  "any  hapoir 
Charity,  and'  »  unl^VaS^'',  «««'«^voiced  sL»  ^^ 

"~hj.g_.odo  butlo^t«  j/°n»«  "  ho«>«.  wirh 
•ml  leafless  trees;  and  listen  to  th^n    """^  «  «^y  hi"' 


.^1 


One  morning,  howeveiv  a,  Mis,  h™.  / 


•    -^ 


\-l'-  . 


)«». 


»  ,» 


-  ^  i^- 


•^ 


rf'' 


w 


K: 


140       THE    "STAR    OF,   TBE    VALLEYS 


deserted  parlor,  she  found  Celeste  sitting  in  the^jhimney- 
eorner,  her  face  hidden  in  her  hands,  sobbing  gently  to 
hersejf.  A  little  surprised  at  this,  for  the  child  seemed 
always  smiling  and  happy  before  her,  Miss  Hagar  took 
her  on  her  knee,  and  asked  what'  ivas  the  matter. 

'  "Nothing,"  replied  Celeste,  though her-cHeek  glowed 
,  primson  red,  as  she  felt  she  was  not  speaking  the.truthT 

.*'  People  don't  cry  for  nothing,  child  V*  said  the  aged 
spinster,  severely.     '' Whaesthi  matter  r\ 

"  Please,  Miss  Hagar,  I'm  so  naughty,' but— but^I 
don't  want  to  ifeave  school." 

"Don't  want  to  leave  school  ?  Why,  child,  you'd 
freeze  to  death  going  to  school  in  the  winter."  / 

"  But  Minnette  gfoes,"  pleaded  Celestes,  •  ~ 

;"  Minnette'i  not  like  you,  little  Jily.  She's  strtrng  and 
/hardy,  and  doesn't  mind  the  cold  ;  it  "only  bringsitying 
roses  to  her  cheeks;  but  you,  little"  whiflf  of  down,  that 
jrpu  are, -you'd  blow  awaj^itlflhe  first  winter  breeze.'.' 

Celeste  had  no  reply  to  make  to  this.  Sh^  only 
hung  4own  b^r  head,  and  tr|ed  very  hard  to  .swallow  a 
choking  sensation  in  her  throat.  .  .   *   • 

At  this  momem  Archie  burst  in,  in  his  usual  boister- 
ous nianner,  all  aglow  with  snow-balling  Louis.    Mas-' 
tcr  Rivers  seemed  in  very  good  condition,  notwithstand- 
ing theloSs  of  Gipsy  ;  though  I  rather  think  he  would 

^^e  be^  induced  to  knock  any  one  down  who  would 
tell  him  ^  had  forgotten  her.    '    ,  ^     ' 

"Wfclfcl  in  trouble  again,  little  sis?  Who's  been 
botheiini^  you  now  ?  Just  give  me  a  hint,  and  I'll  invite 
them  nbt  to  do  it  again." 

"Why,  the  little  simpleton  is  crvingfbecause  I  won^t 
let  her  freeze  hevself  to  dedth  golftg  to  school  all  win- 
ter I"  said  Miss  Hagar.  |^_ 
Oh,  that's  it—is  it? 


'that  good-natured  old  «!avar>.«  q     •      ^  \ 

use  his  family  sleio-h  tr,r,hi  '".''"^^  ">at  we  sliould  all 
«e  how  tho«  S'7**.,'""'r-    Now,  MissHagar, 

school  with  ™u  e^r±^  ''.''"*'°  "•obes.aiU.dash  off  to 
""rsleigh  ben"   17  ?°''°'"S  to  the  music  of  .hi  ji„g. 

."Wh!"stha^»"J^i?M?'''°"'''''«S'°ri»»^ 

Pussy  h^;to'X  her  to  «hoo?f:r  'i'  ''"«''  "^  '° 
you  if  youVe  not  cross  th^lh  Iv  '^''"P'  **'"  «ake 
ulv  loie.for  J.  o„ .-' '••"^"Sh  the  squire  has  no  partic 

•  "^^^l^f^^  f-"^  scornfully,^ 

such  a  baby  I"  shfaL^d  li!    •"*  "*•    ^'°«  '"d  be 
Celeste.        '  ^*'''  ^'*'«="'g  contemptuously  at 

And  Minnette  was  n^  /vL»j        . 

refusipjeven  the  sT<X,testTr„"  ""^  "''•^' P°''«*«'y 
,  Archie  Exhausted  a  11  T,  S^T  ^«'  '°  ^o  in  thesleigh. 
tearfully,  offering  to  stvlTr''  """.^e'^^'o  Plead^^d 
place;  bu,  J«nnftte atwer J afl  T  '"  ""'  *^^  """ 
sulleu  "I  won't."    Eren  whl   /o  «»'«aties  by" a 

being  to  whom  her^  hW,    «„kk     ""'  •"'^  ""'^  """« 
Pl*ded  with  her  r;  c?me  '  h^  °",  "'"  """^^  "^-d,  -- 
saH  in/a  tone  ^^  %nTtl  £  °""'  '"'"^  «-^  ""O 

W    r«^o°trmblT2ttrc''''=',"V^°-    Wby  should 

*ft»win.erf-A"w^  't  «X:t  L'e*  s""'"'"^  .  '  '^ 
summer  is  too«still  indw^rr.  T     '  summer  I    The 

'he  winter,  with  j,"  .Tdd-- °"^ '*^'"^°'"  ™«  '  «"' 
storms.^  ani  wht. ' '^"^8^"^  Tnf  ?"''•  ''°*"»f 
bre^Csends  the  blood  blJS^^^X^'^t^!!:?"'?   «»'!• 


■/  ' 


'"g  I'kft  lightning  through 


every  vein  himybod^y  until  Tfl»  'f^^^"'°g  through 


t  U^^>'^'^!(^%-' 


X4a       Tff£   ^  STAR    OF    TffB    VALLEYS 

through  the  drifted  snow,  I  feel  no  cold;  but  in  your 
-warm  sleigh  be^de  lifir^  my*lieart  would  feel  like  ice  I" 

"  Strange,  Wild  girl  that  you  are  !  Why  do  you  dis- 
like Celeste  so|  much?"     ;  ■ 

"  I  don't  knpw.  \  njever  liked  any  one  in  my  life— at 
least  not  more  than  one,  Ho  you  like  he^  ?"  she  said, 
lifting  her  eyes,  glancing  with  dusky  fire,  to  his  face.  • 

"Like  her!"  he  exclaimed,  shaking  (^ack  his  short, 
black  curls,  while  his  full,  dafk  eye  kinclled — "like  that* 
lovely  lihle  creature.!  that  gentle  little  dove  !  that  sweet 
little  fairy  !  beautiful  as  an  angel !  radiant  as  a  poet's 
dream  !  bewitching  as  an  Eastern  bourl !  Like  her  I  Oh, 
Minnette!"  / 

She  paused  for  a  moment,  and  fixed  her  gleaming 
eyes  on  the  bright,  handsome  face,  sparkling  with  boy 
ish  enthusiasm  ;  then,  without  a  word,  turned  away,  and 
fled  fr]om  his  sight. 

And  from  that  moment  her  hatred  of  Celeste  re- "^ 
doubled  tenfold  in  its  intensity.  Every  opportunity  of 
woundibg  and  insulting  the  sensitive  heart  of  the  gentle 
child  was  seized ;  but  every  ini^nlt  "was  borne  with  pa-' 
tience-— every  taunt  and  sarcasm  met  with  meek  silence, 
that  only  exasperated  her  merciless  tormentor  more  and 
more.  Sometimes  Celeste  would  Ifeei  rising  in.her  bosom 
Vl  feeling  of  dislike  and  indignation  toward  her  persecu- 
tor; and  then,  filled  with  remorse,  she  would  kned  in 
the  chapel  and  meekly  pray  for  a  better  spirit,  and  al- 
ways rise  strengthened  and  hopeful,  to  encounter  her 
arch-enemy,  with  her  taunting  words  and  deriding  black 
eyes. 

One  last  incident,  displaying  forcibly  their  different 
ispositions,  and  I  have  done  with  the  children^   Min- 
Inette  and  Celeste,  forever. 

^Pt»^isterg  had  purchaacd  a  beautiful  new  statue  of 


Vi 


-V 


t» 


^.' 


^^    "^^    0>    mi   VAZZEY." 


,'  ~^ 


% 


'43 
Rroapds  atjtached  to  t|^  S^„       M-  "*^'  «*''''"  »""» 

.  ^  MVell,  then,  th««-s  U.«  refectcy,"  p:4i:l:;,  Mini 

^  would  no.  be  ^^id:"  ^^W-Gower  were  here, 

"/ain't  a  coward!    I'll  eo '"  crii-rt  ««-   «  n     . 

e»A,  Aivered  into  a  thousand  iZ^^^  "*"  » '""'' 
MinV«tS"h£!l%'""^  P"*'  "»■«''  ""h  '«"»r.    Even 


fi;*^-l  v«.l«:  broKen  pieces  of  the^qui^te^toe. 


lece^ 


it 


r-' 


-*ii> 


■C" 


W" 


.■\ 


144       Tff^    "  STAR    OF    THE    VALLEY^      f 

'  ^^-  ^  I 

was  but  for  "a  moment;  all  her  presence  of  mind  re- 
turned, as  she  breathlessly  exclaimed  : 

"Sister  will  be  here  in  a  moment  and  catch  us.  Let 
us  run  out  and  join  the  other  girls,  and  she'll  never 
know  vfho  did  it." 
;  -*'-■'  In  an  instant  they  were  rushing  pell-mell  from  the 
room.  Minnette  was  the  last,  and  as  she"* went  out  her 
eye  fell^  upon  Celeste  coming  along  the  passage.  A  pro- 
ject for  ^ra^ying  her  hatred  immediately  flashed  across 
her  mind.  S(iizing  Celeste,  by  the  arm  she  thrust  her 
into  the  refectofyTdqsed  the  door,  and  fled,  just  as  the 
Sister,  startled  by  the  ^oise,  came  running  to  the  spot: 

She  opened  the  door !  There  stood  Celeste,  pale  and 
trembling,  gazing  in  horror  oiklhe  ruins  at  her  feet. 

An  involuntary  shriek  from  Sister  Stanislaus  brought 
.all  the  nuns  and  pupils  in  alarmXto  the  spot.  Celeste 
had  entered  the  forbidden  room-rhad,  by  some  accident, 
broken  the  beautiful  and  costly  statv^ ;  that  was  a  fact 
self.-evident  to  all.  She  did  not  attempt  to  deny  it — her 
trembling  lips  could  frame  no  words,  wnile  the  r^a/ cul- 
prits stood  boldly  by,  silent  and  unsuspected^  '' 

Celeste  was  led  away  to  appear  before  V  Mother  Vin- 
cent," and  answer  the  heavy  charge  brought  against  her. 
She  weirknew  how|  it  all  happened,  and  could  very 
easily  have  cleared  herself;  but  she  had  just  been  read- 
ing a  lecture  on  humility  and  self-denial,  and  heroically 
resolved  to  bear  the  blame  sctioner  than  charge  Minnette. 
"  Mibnette  wfU  hatci  me  worse  than  ever  if  I  tell,"  she 
thought ;  "  and  I  must  try  and  get  her  to  like  me.  Be- 
sides, I  deserve  punishment,  for  I  felt  dreadfully  bad  and 
naughty,  when  she  made  the  girls  laugh  at  me  this  morn- 
ing-" 

So  Celeste  met  the  charge  only  by  silence,  and  sobs, 


and  tears;  and  Mother  Vincent,  leading^  her  intor  the 


/ '  ■  T*; 


^  -^ 


5# 


VAlLEVr 


MS 


It  was  not  for  the  loL  of  ,h*^'""'P"««' «»<' grieved. 

«»  act  of  disbfedience  as  emerini^tT,"' ■°  «'"'»« 
»ot  go  unpunished.  Therefore  V^  '^f""^  ""'•I 
would  lead  Celeste  off  and  1^^  fc  "If  ""^  •'°««P'' 
*ool  was  dismissed,asaJi?ML^K'''  '"''"«"  "»«' 
i«utut».»  '      "  "«"»■>«  to  be  mon  obe<«ent 

would  breal^waflS^aJavL  ,h       *    *""  *'""•  ■■*»« 
.fectory/.ndlef.ao«-Xrd~„'°°''  ""'""Mden  «. 
Pfits  sat  silent  and  un^y/j'rtLT!^:^-    The  real  cal- 
,  suppressed  sob  would^ra"  d  tfr^''''' T^"  •  »ow. . 

d."ot^.;proudarr^::foi-rrv'i,^^^^^^^   - 

nobly  confessed  the  wholl     tL     "?  ?"R""°'  •»<> 
amazed,  but  silent     r-i.  .  -    «^°°''  '«>/  listened    • 

.-o^hrr  c-hee^^^d  life;"  .t,:!'*.*'"'"^; 

fell  beneath  the  keen,  steady  gSe  5  the  ott,     ~"  '^'' 
un,  to  find  .,  arSlud'^t-ij"  Sy."'^.  !'«Tona  ,n, 


"»•«  to  find  go  artful  »u„  winrA/f  o  wx       ..  - 


\ 

A 


^  ^'^mm 


'     4__*___>_*    <* 


'       '    . 


sk 


i4$       TffB    **StAJl    OF    i'HE    VALL&V:' 


toward  her  and  dtressrag  her  golden  head  ;  *' why  did 

you  suffer  this  wrong  in  silence  ?"  / 

;'  '  "Because  I  deserved  it,  Mother;  I  didn't  like  Miii- 

;         nette  this  morn/ing,"  she  answered,  dropping  her  pale 

facesadly.         /  ^Ti''   \'\.'^""^--''^'   '-[^ ' ''/■■'' 

;    A  glance  that  might  have^ki^ed   her,    it   was   so 
da^Ungly,  intjfensely  angry,  shot  from  the  lightning  eyes 

of  Minnette. 

After  a  feW  brief  words,  both  were  dismissed.    Th# 
.  ;  ^      sleigh  stdppcNd  t(^  take  up  Celest^  and  Minnette  walked 
'■^      proudly  and/sulleniy  home.      *^ 

'    o^    When  she  reached  the  house  she4^9und Celeste stand- 

"v      ,.  in^  in  the  door-way,  with  Louis  beside  her,  twining  her 

golden  curls  over  his  fingers.    All  the  evil  passions  in 

'  '         MinnetteW nature  were  aroused  at  the  sight.    Springing 

upon  herjfairly  screaming  with  rage,  she  mised  her 

)        clenched  hand  an4  struck  her  a  blow  that  felled'her  to 

''-      the  grouiid.    Then  darting  past,  sheflew  like  a  flash  up 

the  poliuied  oaken  staircase,  and  locked  herself  in  her 

own  room  ;  but  not  until  the  Wild  cry  of  Louis  at  the  de- 

"  moniac/act  reached  her  ear,  turning  her  very  blood  to 

gall. 

.  ;  He /sprang  forward,  and  raised  Celeste  up.  She  had 
struck/  on  a  sharp  icicle  as  she  fell,  and  the  golden  hair- 
V  '  .  clung/to  her  faee  clotted  with  the  flowing  blood,  Pale 
and  senseless,  like  a  broken  lily,  she  lay  in  his  arms,  as. 
With  A  heart  ready  to  burst  with  anguish,  Louis  bore  her 
into  the  house  and  laid  her  on  a  sofa,;  His  cry  brought 
: '  Miss  Hagar  to  the  spot.  She  stdod  in  the  door-way,  and 
with  her  usual  calmness  surveyed^ the  licene.  Celeste  lay 
witnout  life  or  motion  on  the  sofa,  and  Louis  bent  over 
heii  chafing  her  cold  hands,  aiid  calling  her  by  every 
^  teqtder  and  endearing  name,  "^"^  / 

"Some  of  Minnette's  handiiyork."  «tt«i  yaJd,  ^minpf 


V- 

y  - 


&lrward;  "  poor  little  white  dove,  that  Yalturef  would 


%..... 


.  •:  ••■•.:-t 


.    J  ■% 


^-» 


-;^; 


t^^'^^^tAH    OR 


^^^  valley:* 


.* ,  ■ 


—Louis,  his  w"r;4\^- :«';';  »-o  i,  d««,;.  eH«, 

•1  agony  of  grirf.    ^  *^  ""*"  »we''>ng  and  throbbing  tn 

'  <-^t^o,:^r'^atg:J'r^^*«'«^»*^- 
*rho  answered  ii  for  ,he  S  *'P»"^'"«'  ">e  «rvant 

»'"•  'he  utmost  indifference  •  K^\  F'seman  ctoe  i, 
■     ie  was  « j„„  „k.  Minn«"e  '•  tfc  •?  **'  """y-  "^^^ 
one  whether  she  would  «er  .2.  ^*'"  "  '»  chances  to  ; 
era!  direction,  a,  to  howT  TT".'  «•"«  «  <*"  8«»^ 
<^  .0|ip  hi.  coffee  a„r^''2^'"'»  "^^ecl,  «.d  Sn, 

^-o^^X'H^r!:L.^™^"^c~c,..n.^  ,». 

Hall,  and  li»e  with  us.  Grandfa*  ^"  °''"' '»  S"»>« 
Md  generous  ;  and  you  anffi^u';'  T^  "ut  kind 
warmly  welcomed.    /feron^Li  '  C«'««e  will  be 

"No,  Louii"  said  M?^u        ""«"^- 
"I  .ha*k  ^ou  for  y^ur  k^Ti^TLff' "*  '»'  "«* 
PeodentoJ,  anybody.    No^lTnio^  '  '.""'•°'  "^  "^ 

■e.  A^hrZie^",««';^  «^.«d 
soul,  who  i?pore.likean  ,i«  !hi      I?".'' S""'  little 

"No."  said  Miss  H^r  ■  S''t»  " '""»« <=hild." 
^  me  about  ifef.«taiirfrom  here  ','.7'^  '^'"■'King 
Vallqr.    Fou  Mbw  it.  of  Z^"' wtS'r  f^'*^  "'"« 
furnished :  and  as  soon  as^^te  ^^'  '  "^'  """^  *t 
f«  rtcover.  po^r  chi^  I^f  J^!^  l"*" >v«r 


?.     .V 


;:vi 


/ 


"  BeyoDd  the  power  of  Minnette,**  thought  LouiSy  as  ^ 
-  he  walked  homeward.    "  Will'  she  w*r  be  beyond  the 
power  of  th^t  mad  g^irl  ?    What  caa  have'  made  her  hate 
that  angeliC'iittle  creature  so,  L  wonder  ?"  \^ 

Ah,  Louis  I  Teh  years  from  hence  will  jwi>  need  to 
ask  that  questioh  ? 

'  The  indi^iation  of  all  at  Sunset  Hall  at  hearing  of 
Mlnnette's  outrageous  conduct:  was  extreme.  The  squijre.  . 
was  sure  that  "  bedevitedtigresswould  never  die  in  bed." 
Mrs.  Glower's  fat  bosom  swelled  witE  indignation,  and 
evett  Lizzie  managed  to  drawl  out  "  it  was  positively  to^ 
bad."  And  immediately  after  hearing  it  Mrs.  Grower 
ordered  out  the  sleigh,  and  loading  it  with  delicacies  forj^ 
the  little  suflferer,  set  out  for  Deep  Dale,  where  she  found 
her  raving  in  the  deliri um  of  a  brain  fever. 

Days  and  weeks  passed  ere  Celeste  rose  from lier  bed,     ' 
pale  and  weak,  and  frailer  than  eyer.    Minnette^  with"" 
proud,  cold  scorn,  met  the  reproachful  glances  of  those  .  - 
around  her;  and  never  betrayed,  by  word  or  act,  the 
slightest  interest  in  th^  sufferer.    Only  once,  when  C^ 
leste  for  the  first  time  entered  the  parlor,  supportisd  bl' , 
Louis,  did  she  start ;  a|id  the  blood  swept  in  a  crimson 
tide  to  her  face,  dyeing  her  very  temples  fiery  red.    She 
turned  aside  her  head ;  but  Celeste  w-ent  over,  and  taking 
'  her  unwilling  hand,  said,  gently  :- 

"  Dear  Minnette,  how  glad  I  am  to  see  you  once  more. 
It  seems  such  a  long  time  since  we*  met.  Why  did:  you 
not  come  to  see  me  when  I  was  sick  ?"  '    ' 

"  You  had  more  agreeable  company,"  said  Minnette,' 
in  a  low,  cold  voice,  glaring  her  fierce  eyes  at  Louis  as 
she  arose.    "  Excuse  me,"  and  she  passed  haughtily  from  . 
the,  room.  '  ' 

Miss  Hagar's  Valley  Cottage  was  now  reiady  for  her 
reception  ;  and  as  soon  as  Celeste  cCBild  beaoo  b<>  rgr^==== 


'movfsd  they  quitted  Deep  Dal^,    Celeste  shed  a  few  t^rs 


■  Jfc.- 


ce  more. 


Tire    "STAji  ^  m£  jrjtj^j^^^ 


'  k- 


Then,  seating  himself  on  the  other  tirf w  ..u'***'^'"*- 
a  merry  adieu  to  Minnette  «K  l! °'  ''*'''  "^  ^honted 

hear  him-%r  she  liZ)  .^J  ^'"*"'  "«'"■"  ">  «»  nor 
Mi«  H,,„  ttittrt.  t  rntt»^'  *«  "o- 
off  the  whole  party  dashed  *  ^"'"* '  ""<> 

the  Valley,"  as  Master  I  ™^.  I  J      ''  **  *«''■■"  Star  of 

was  know;  "r  aS  wide  0=1^'"?'-"''"''  """"^  "*'• 
,  »»PPy  before  in  her  liTeEv.T  ^^  '""^'^  "^e"  »o 
■    Archie  to  the  cowl  with^?.*?^  brought  Louis  or 

""••'"H  to  pS't'V.^eir^srar^.'":^^  "iT'^  "' 
.   Celeste  loved  tiem  both  alike^o  Jf  -  k*°"*  "  ^^^ 

Hagar,  jus,  as  she  did  Mn.  G^er'    TK'^„„t'  "'t  *"" 

months  passed  away   Minn^T^        Though  weeks  and 

^»«bervisit,4isp.SC.rar?i,ta«-^ 

life  t  t^-lh-e'SThto  ""  *'  "^  "'*^'-»*« 
the  liveloSg  day'f^r  aft^  Z!"°°'"'.'\'"'"'«''"°»«^ 
which  the  ^ue  was  br^k,!r  ^'  "T'"'  ■»<"•»'■«  on' 
wore.    With  her^ia^**!;  ""* ''°"'''  8°  ^  -chofl  no 
sfe  fo.  hour,  wit"  ht  glS"|  ^L^l  "■»*  ''-ouM 
fire,  thinking  and  thinkingwISke  J^L^*f  ^"^  °°  "«' 
reading  by  i^lt,  until  t:^^''j^^^t°trch"'  ""?"."' 
jaw-spthting  yawn,  decl.r«rf  ,hl  u    -    ^'"t^'Oi  with  a 
Sister  of  Charir  if  ,h^,"l*-  ^''*  "^'  «»  «»<!  be  » 

tomb,  ever  he  Sdog^J'l^r '"''"<>'«"  the  oM 
ucuru  01,  neep  naift  hmt  them  lioltow. ' ' 


wo 


om  GiJ^syj 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


OUR  GIPSV. 


**  Leaping  spidts  bright  as  air, 
Dancing  jbeait  untouched  by  care*. 
Sparlcling  ejre  and  laughing  brow, 
Aiid  miiuful  cheelc  of  joyous  glow." 

N  the  sf)3riQg  Louis  and  Archie  were  to  go  \o 
New  York  atid  edter  college.  The  squii 
who  was  dying  by  inches  of  the  inaction 
Sunset  Hall^  resolved  to  accompany  tlieni^ 
y  .  and  ^'i^^*^  rousing  hers^ir  from  .her  indo^ 
lenc^,  also  resolved  toi  accompany  them.  Doctor  WiseA 
man  intended  sending  Minnette  to  boarding-school,  and 
MisiS  liagar  offered  to  send  Celeste,  likewise  if  she  would 
go ;  but  Celeste  pleaded  to  remain  and  go  to  the  Sisters; 
and  as  it  happened  to  be  just  what  Miss  Hagar  wished, 
she  consented.  <^ 

The  evening  before  that  fixed  for  the  departure  of  tbe 
boys  was  spent  by  them  at  the  Valley  Cottage.  Archie 
was  in  unusually  boisterous  spirits,  and  laughed  till  he 
made  the  house  ring.  Louis,  on  the  contrary,  was  silent 
and  graye,  thinking  sadly  of  leaving  home  and  of  part> 
ing  with  his  friends 

Cele^e,  who  always  caught  her  tone  from  those  around 
her,  was  ojic  moment  all  smiles  at  one  gay  sally  of 
Archie's,  and  the  next  sighing  softly  as  her  eye  fell  upon 
the  grief-bowed  young  head  of  Xouis.  Mi^s  Hagar  sat 
by  the  fire  knitting,  as  stiff,  and  solemn,  and  grave  as 
usual. 

"It  will  be  a year--4:welye^whole  month»--before  wo 


all  meet  again/'  said  Louis,  with  a  t^h. 


■'1  + 


■]i 


P£^    G/J>sy. 


^»Si 


^ 


never  pass."  '°°"?'"'^    ''  »«""  'o  me  the.  time  will 
"«.<.  we'll  con.e  S^k^ouog"^  i^iin^^jLS  T ' 

«    "idCeles^.l^ty"":""'-  "'-'«^'»«oi»Saw»jitoOk" 

,       "Well,  you  needn't  care  for  her    I'm  ».^»     jj 

Archie,  gruffly.     "She's  as  sharp  a,  a  bo,U.  ^^    **" 

PW",  «.d  «  «,ur  a,  an  unrirmb^p^V'  S^"! 

J-ikcsme?    Oh,  that's  too  jrood     HolH  m-  - 

It  was  a  beautiful  moonlight  niirht     The  hr.<yK*  m 
moon  shed  a  shower  of  sihrcryVfiv  over  th!^    .   "^ 
.nd^^thed  them  in  its  ref ulg^^tfe^         '°'?^ 

ingh^a^riS:^^'^"^''''-^^^^^^  ' 

homers  •       Are  you  so  soriy  for  leaving 

"I  dou' 


]Foia» 


»» 


I  ««  lor  that,  Cele«e  flmnnjui  U»y, 


If 


.  .--Hi 


r; 


i$af 


OUR    GIPSY, 


s 


i'V 


you 


"But  it's  only  for  4 year*    I  will  be  bere  when  you 
comeback."  .     '     .  :    '    ' 

*^'Will  ybu.  Celeste  ?'»  ' 

i    "AVhy,  yes,' Louis,  of  course  I' will."      :  >; 

.*' Oh,-^o,  you  won't.  Celeste/ Therfe  will  be  jsome- 
thing  here  tiiller  and  more  womanly;  whb  will  talk  and 
act  like  a  young  lady^ndwhom  I  will  call  Miss  Pearl ; 
but  the  little,  gentle  Celeste  will  be  here  no  longer. •^'  ''■ 

"%eil,  won't  it  be  the  same  with  you?"  said  Celeste^ 
witn  an  arch  smile.    "Something  will  come  back  taller 
und  more  manly, 'Who  will  talk  and  act  like* a  young 
gentleman,  and  whom   I   iliusi;  call   Mr.  Oranmore,  I  •( 
suppose.    But  the  Loifis  wBo.  brings  me  pretty  book^  *^ 
aud  calls ^ me  't&e  Star' of  the  Valley/  I ivill  never  «ee 

again.  ' -%       ^'  J'    -^:.  v- ■    ,.■.'•■■■.   ■  '  \    "      .r'^--^^ 

♦*Oh,  Celeste,  you  knili^w  beltef  tlian  that    %\\\ 
think  of  me  sometimes  ^hen  I  am  gone  ?"  \         '^  \ 

'<Ob,yes;  alwaySl    What*  a  strange  question!    Wl^ 
I  neve/ thought  of  asking  you'  to  think  of  me,  thougUl^^ 
you  are  going  among  so  la^ny  strangers,  who  will  make 
you  forget  all  your  old  fnends."      v     « 

** You  know  1  &ldn't  forget  any  of  my  oldfriends, 
Celes|e,  much  less  you.  n^  shall  thiiak  of  y6u,  and  Miss 
Hagai^,  and  Mrs.  GoWerj  and — ^yes,  and  poor  Gipsy  every , 
da^.  See,  I  have  brought 70U  a  parting  gift,  Celeste,  for 
your  celestial  little  nec^'       "     *  ^      ,; 

So  say^,  he  drfew  out  a  little  gold  chain  and  cross,    '     : 
and  threw it  bVer  the  graceful  neck  that  bent  to  receive     '-"^ 

it,      ,"       ;■  A  '■  A... 

"  Oh,.thank  you,  deaf  Louis.    I  shall  pri^  your  gift 
so  mufth.    How  kind  and  thoughtful  of  you  \    Iwish  \^- 
had  something  to  give  you  in  rgturn."  '    .* 

.*•  One  of  your  curls  will  do."  ^Sf 

yeu^ahaH-have  It".'-   "  '        '    ^^ 


•   -     ---       -w    -  —    y J. 

So  sayifg,  she  drejv  'out  a  tiny  pair  of  (inissors  and 


'■   t 


t'  I 


t-  ■, 


\;  ./5J^£^iP    C/Psy, 


and  not  bring  ,2;:^-  ^^^^  *!?- N  a  gopd  boy, 
4po,V  where  Celest.^  sdll  loS^^k^^^      ''^^      ^ 
A  .  .  and  closing  her  eyes  to  ibi'ce  baok^h^^.  °    '  f  ^^'^"^  1 

l^  ^    ^  fas^  gathering  in  them    h^^     Sl      f  *^*  ^^^ ^^^ 
\  ^-      said  r  -    '  ?   °  ^"''  *?^  '^^fc  ^r^i^  his  a^m^  ittd 

n"*^  r   "A?*  '^^g^d-bjpe, little d^rlitti   D«4v«.^^/     >   ''  I 

^*^^i  *'^^^*'"^^' ^^»^he  could  say^assh«M 
-^^is^ck  and  sobbA  on  hfs  shoul^/^'  -  '  she^  plung  to       . 

V   ...  "^  compressed  his.liDs  and  «»««iA»:.i.. ..  ' ,     <    1 .      .'         H 


.        gentleman.  . "  ""S^  ?«» JWtly-indignani  young 

'^       '^oZi:^^!£j^^ko;^Mo  to  Minneue    '       ' 
for  Sunsw  Hall "     ^       ''  '^'***"»«'y.  "«»<1  then  hie 

"Yes.'  poor  C!«l»aff,"  nnid  Uiuii   i-iji. "    ..i  i. 
dently  foreettino-   h«  i.«j        *'"'"».  will,  b  sign,  evi-. 

-  A^Hi^^f  .:ft'::o':j,:.s:^-s- 


,v 


.^  ■*-;, 


l>r.->; 


I 


»S4 


r 


;^    ora.  G/j*sK 


19P  lusf  hie«ls  aofl  snapping  his  &nfgeTsin  an  ectasjr^f  4e<^ 
light.  Louis  found  his  example  so  contagjious,  that-— 
after  tiding  j^6r  a  few  moments  to  preiserve  Ms  g^vity— 
he,  too,  was  forced^to  join  iii|  his  uproarious/ mirth. 

On  their  arrival  at  Deep  Dale  they  foun4  the  doctor^ 
in  his  study.VLouis'  bade  him  a  formal  farewell  j  and 
having  loarneVthat  Minnette^w:^^  in  the  parlor,  he  went 
down  toseetcher,  accompanied  by  Archie.       > 

She  sat  in  her  usual  attitude,  gazing  intently  out  of  the 
window  at  the  cold  moonlight.  She  looked  up  as  they 
entered,  and  startedt^yiolently  as  she  peroeiyed  who  were 
her  visitors. 

**  Well,  MinnettQ,  we've  come  to  bid  you  good-bye^' 
said  Archie;^  gayly,  throwing  his  ar^ns  round  her  neck 
and  imprinting  a  cousinly  ^lute  on  her  cheek.  "Good-' 
bye  for  twelve  months,  and  then  .hie  for  home  and  a 
happy  meeting.  Louis,  I  leave  you  to  m&ke  your  adieus 
to  Miunette,  while  I  make  mine  to  old  Sus^  down  in  the 
kitchen.  Mind,  Minnette,  don't  give  him  one  of  youi* 
curls,  as  I  saw  another  little  girl  do  awhile  ago,  unles^ 
hjB  gives  you  a  gold  cross  and  chain  in  rteturn  for  it — ^he, 
g^ve  her  one."  And  with  a  mischievous  laugh^  Atchie 
clattered  , down  stairs,  taking  half,  the  staircas^l^  a, 
bound.  '"  I:'  ••     ■  "4'     ''"   . 

She  drew  herself  back  and  up ;  and  the  hand  she  had 
half  extended  to  meet  his  was  withdrawn,  as,  with  a  cold 
formal  bow,  she  said : 

**  Farewell !  I  wish  you  a  safe  journey  and  a  happy 
return."'      "  :•  ■  _  ■  i"-.- 

.  *'  And  nothing  more  T  Oh,  Minnette  I 
/friends,  who  have  known  each  other  from 
,to  part  ?    Just  thWk,  y^fi^  neV^r  meet 

**jD0  you  caret"  she  asked,  in  a  softe 

"Care  f    Of  conrae  I  do.    Won't 


A' 


I^it  thus  old 
ildhpod,  are 
ainl" 
voice. 

shwke  hantlfi 


i*. 


.-  V- 


■*,  •• 


'-/  . 

cT. 

-'■% 

-31 

,*             ' 

#^'i 

■>,:i      ■,     -t 


^1": 


:■  ii 


acTi?  G/i'sy. 


ns 


Minnrtte !    You're  not   half  as  soriy  to  let  me  eo  as 

little  C^Bleste  was."  ,  '  ^®  -^ 

n^Jl.^''*  °**^  ^  ^?°'*  '°^  ®^  iiuch.    I  have  no  booksi 
»kL       »'^°°''.r"'''  °°'  gold,cro8scs  to  lose  by your' 
absence,    she  ^id,  sarcastically-her  face,  that  had  soft, 
encd  for  a  motoent,  growing  cold  and  hard  at  the  men- 

^^VL^'  ""T^    "  Good-bye  Louis,  and^^I  wishTou 
all  duccess  and  happiness."  '""^ 

■     ^e hand  she extended.was  bid a^iii    depressed 

1^ZT«  ^'^  f""*  «^^  ^^^y  ^«*^  '*>«  clear,  bright 
eyes  thai  defiantly  met  his, own.    '  '^ 

"Gome,  Louis,  tton't  stay  therts  all  night!"  called 
Archie,  impatiently.  "Old  Suse  has  been  hugging  and 
kiting  me  til  I  was  half  smothered,  down  theTe  in  the 
kitchen  5  and  it  didn't  take  her  half  the  time  it  does  you 
two. ,  Come  alon^."  «»/v» 

V  ",?°9d-bye !  good-bye !"  said  Louis,  waving  his  hand 
\o  Minncttc,  who  followed  him  to  the  doorl  and  the 
next,  moment  they  were  dashinar  along  at  break-neck 
speed  toward  Sunset  Hall.      .  vi 

The  moonlight  that  night  fell  on  Celeste,  kneeling  in 
her  own  little  room,  praying  fpr  Louis  and  Archik  and 
sobbing  in  unrestrained  grief  whenever  her  eye  fell 
nH«l"^t  *"^*''  gold  cross-A/V  parting  ^Ift.  Appro- 
priate  gift  from  one  who  steemed  destined  to  nevetlar 
aught  but  r/vj;r/tf  upon  her !  r  / 

It  fell  upon  Minnette,  sitting  still  by  the  window, 
with  a  face  as  cold  and  white  as  the  moonlight  on  which 
shegaaed     Shff  did  not  love  Louis  Oninmore ;  but  she 
admired  him-likcd  him  better  than  any  one  else  she, 
Knew.^perhaps,  because  he  was   handsome.    But   she 
hated  Celeste  ;  and  his  evident  preference  for  her  kindfcd' 
l^g-^gloLifflloiisy  in  hftf  pasfiinnnte  soul,  until  — 
8hc«>uld¥avc  killed  her  without  remorse. 

The  next  morning  the  gay  party  set  out  for  New 


\ 


a- 
A 


:^r 


^'^<;-.  •.;,,„:;.*. 


Ydi-kV/and  in  due  course  of  time  they  reached  that  citj^r 
and  put  up  at  one  of  the  best  hotels.  -^ 

"  SUpposb  we  go  to  the  opera  to-night  ?"  said  Lizzie 
to  the  Squire,  as  she  sat— all  her  lariguor  gone— looking 
out  of  Ithe  window  at  the  siileam  of  life  flowing  below. -_ 

"  J^st  as  you  like— it's  all  one  to  me,"  said  the  squire, 
with  n)08t  sublime  indifference. 

»<Then  the  opera  be  it,"  said  Lizzie,  and  th*  opera, 
accordingly,  it  was.  And  a  few  hours  later  found  tHem 
cdmfortably  seated,  listening  to  the  music,  and  gazing 
on  the  gayly-attired'  people  around  them.  / 

•*  How  delightful  this  is  !"  exclaimed  Lizzie,  Mr  eyes 
sparkling  with  pleasure.       '    ,  »  / 

"  Humph  !Aidelightful !  Set  of  fools !  *  All  is  vanity,' 
u  Solomon  says.  Wonder  who  foots  the  6ills  for  all 
this   tlittering   and   shaking    toggery?"    grunted   the 

squire.  ; 

"  I(ve  heard  them  ^y  that  the  young  danseuse,*La 
Petite.  Eaglet,'  is  going  to  dancgpo-night,"  said  Louis. 
"  EyeJybody'^%aving  abouk  heT^  -       , 

**  "Whyt    Is  she  so  beautiful  ?"  inquired  Lizzie. 
'      "  No,  1  believe  not ;  it's  because  she  dances  so  well," 
ireplied  Louis. 

At  this  moment  the  curtain  arose,  a  thunder  of  Ap- 
plause' shook  the  house,  and  La  Petite  Eaglet  herself 
'  ^totod  before  them.  A  little  straight,  lithe  figure,  arrayed 
in  floating,  gauzy  robes  of  white  silver  tissue,  and 
'  crowned  with  white  rosea-^-a  small,  dark,  keen,  piquant 
face— bright,  roguish  eyes,  that  went  dancing  like  light- 
ning around  .the  house.  Sijddenly  her  eye  fell  on  bur 
party  from  ^.  Mark's;  a  slight  start  and  a  quick  re- 
moval of  her  eyes  followed.  The  applause  grew  deaf- 
ening as  the  people  hailed  their  favorite.  She  bowed. 
The  iirosic  struck  merrily  up,  and  her  tiny  feet  went^ 


i;-.:' 


giancing,  like  rain-drops,  here  and  there.    She  seemed. 


'A 


3>-.'  ;^*i.Ti; 


W"^- 


:  ■.  r 


•ct 


ovjt  Gipsy, 


Jier  feet,  as  he  ffazed     Li77i#>  a«^  t      •    J^      ^'  "*^  "•'« 

face.  i'"''2'ea,  nait-delighted  recognition  on  his 

^'"-^^  k"*""  dancer^hi'rled  atid  pirouetted  before 
and  when  she  ceased  a  shout  orappIau«j  Vhun 

crown  of  rL,  f^m  Ter  he^  ^^'  "'"  """•"""'  •"« 
whW  she  was  about  to  dT^^  ^^  "^^  "''^"^  ^«> «« 


trower/y 


■s>' 


_^at-: 


k«i;v 


'''  ■;■/  -/ 


-••N'yl    - 


»sft 


x 


GIPSY'S    RSTURN. 


,i> 


A 


\l 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


^' 


OIPSY'd  RETU^  TO  StTNSEt   HALL. 


W 


**Thi8  maiden's  sparicling  e)re»  ' 

Are  pretty  ana  all  that,  sir ; 
•  But  then  her  little  tongue 
A  .   Is  quite  too  full  of  dbat,  sir."— Moors. 


/., 


and  without  waiting  to  s^y 


M 


your  leaver' 


>?■ 


|Hfi>  effect^  of  Archie's  annouilc^ineat  on  our 
party  may  be  imaglnecL  Lizzie  uttered  a 
stifled  shriek  and  fell  bsUik  in  her  seat ;  the 
squire's  eyes  protruded^iitil  they  seemed 
ready  to  burst  from  tl^it;  sockets ;  Louis 
gazed  like  one  thunder-struck)  and  caught  hold  of 
Archie,  who  seemed  inclined  to  leap  on  the  stage  in 
search  of  his  little  lady-love.  .  * 

^*  Let  me  go  into  the  green-room— let  us  go  before  she 
ieayesy"  cried  Archie,  struggling  to  free  himself  from  the 
g^rasp  of  Louis. 

The  crowd  were  now  dispiersing  ;  ^^^  the  squire  and 
his  party  arose  and  were  borne  aloqg  by  the  thrdngp» 
^  headed  by  Archie,  whose  frantic  exertions-^s  he  dug 
his  elbows  right  and  left,  to  make  a  passage,  quite  re- ' 
gardless  of  feelings  and  ribs — soon  brought  them  to  the 
outer  air ;  and  ten  minutes  later^he  squire  never  could 
J  tell  how — ^found  them  in  the  green-room,  among  painted 
actresses  and  slip-shod,  xShabby-looking  actors. 

Archie's  eyes  danced^over  the  sissembled  company, 
who  looked  rather  surprised,  not  to  say  indignant,  at 
^s  «udden  entrance,  and  rested  atjast  on  a  straight, 
slight,  little  figure,  with  its  t»ck  toward  them.  With 
one  hound  he  cleared  the  intervening  space  betwixt 


r  > 


^^y':^  xjsTiif^ 


'*  Dear  me,  Archie,  is  that  you  ?    Tiilr«  n^^^  t        . 

mu.singmynewdressdreadfuUyrw«ther^^^^^^ 

cool  salutation,  in  the  wellfcnnL  !^  i  "°^'°«^*y 

Gipsy.  V        '     welLknow^n  tones  of  our  ttttle. 

" Oh,  Gipsjr,  how  couidyoM  do  it?    Oh  /5J«o«  u 

her  *  monic^y,"'  ^  siteleton  crying  for 

capital  condition  yet "  anyway  I    He  looks  iu.- 

wi^^a  hra";r  *"  "^"'^  •»"'  --  -*«'  ^r^" 

"O^  Gipsy!  you  little  wretch  you!    I  nevertho..^. 

how  ^/ it"  uT^  d!^"  V,'"^^  """•s"  '■  '^"»'  «• 


\. - 


^' 


i**/ 


/■" 


\  '- 


-'  ■■  .1 


■■    ''^^^Hrfi'  ■ 


W 


'Or::K-' :', 


i64 


GIPSY'S  RBTHBir. 


I. 


'J 


**  Oh,  0ip^,  jbu'Il  come  home  with  us,  my  love,  you 
really  must,"  exclaimed  Lizzie^ 

'*  Couldn't,  aunty,  by  no  manner  of  means,"  replied 
Gips]^  shaking  her  head.  -"^ 

"But  ru  be  shot  if /you  Mf,  though,"  touted  thef 
squire,  ^'sono  more  aliiout  it.  Do'ypu  think  Pni^.  going 
to  let  a  waijd  of  MiVie.eb  with  a  gang  of  strolling' players 
any  longer^"         ■■  /    ■'■■■■    '  ■  /. '^    . 

'*  I'm  no  ward  of  ^ours^  Squire  Erliston ;  I'm  my  own 
mistress,  thanks  be , to  goodness,  free  and  independent, 
and  so  I  mean  t<i)  jStay,"  exclaimed  Gipsy,  with  spark-, 
ling  eyes.  .„ '  ^" 

,  "But,  oh,  my  dear  I  my  t^ar  Gjipsy,  do  come  home 
with  us  to-night/'  pleaded  Lizzie,  talcing  her  hand. 

."You  will,  Gipsy,  just  for  to-night,"  coaxed  Louis. 
And:  "Ah,  Gipsy,  won't  you  now?"  pleaded  Archie, 
looking  up  in  heK^tucy  little  face,  with  something;  very 
like  tears  shining  in  his  usually  merry  blue  eyes. . 

**  Well— maybe-*-just  for  to-night,"  said  Gipsy,  ^low- 
ly yielding  ;  **  but  mind[  I  must  go  back  to-morrow."'i 

.-'And  may  I  be  kicked  to  death  by  grasshoppers,,  if 
ever  llet  you  go  back,"  muttered  the  squire  to  himself. 

"  Here  comes  the  manager,  Mr.  Barnes,"  said  Gipsy, 
raising  her  voice;  "  these  are  my  friends,  and  I  am  going 
home  with  them  to-night." 

**  You'll  be  back  to-morrow  in  time  for  the  rehear- 
sal T*  inquired  Mr.  Barnes,  in  no  very  pleased  tone  of 
voice. 

VOh,  yes,  to  be  sure,"  said  Gipsy,  assh^nm  ofE  to 
get  her  hat  and  cloak.    ,/^ 

**  We'll  see  aiouf  that  I"  said  the  squire,  inwardly,'  with 
a  knowing  nod. 

Gipsy  soon  made  her  appearance.    A  cab  iMis  in 


waiting,  and  jThft  wholfi  party  wnrn  snnn  nn  thtfr  way  to 


(lie  hoteL 


/■.  ' 


i.V:» 


\  ''^^'' 


i6t 


niirfrt^  ^^  T  "c  ''"  ^"^  ^<Jventuw«  since  the 
drove^^^^^^^^       from  Sunser^all."  said  ;Louis,a5  they 

St.  Mark's  sine 


Sil -ne  first  all  that  his  hkpp^cd  at 
r  "'^"li^^^^  and  'he  rest  of 


h^ 


lat  had  transpired  ^nce  her 
ich  as  he  could,  the  outrage 


my  friends, 
I         So  Louis  rt,^ 
/    pasture— soften! 

conduct  of- Minn 

been  .here  to  U^^Ter  C  I    ^^^v  ,'."'"'  ''"  ""'y 

-  I'm  not  d^o^  alSS!  ferr  -' V"  "  '"'°^'"«°'  '»-«• 
^_^«Therc',  no  love  R.,e.  ,  tWnk,»  3.;^  Lo„i,,  ^^g^; 

^  ■     ■     ■■■  ■    .  ' . 

'ea^i^^  GL^lrfn^'V^''"  »'«■  0'P»y-    "After 

.0  deliberate  re&d3^'r,7.rr""'  '^  *"» 
yon  all  in  your  beds  or  t»T.  *  '""*'  "^  ""ura 

pipe,  by  wIyoi£:^r.^'i;tli"J^' "--«.»' .^  Wind- 
to  me  in  futriiW"       °     ," '"^^  "»« «o  be  more  polite 


^^^^^^^^W^^^^* 


:,:-|^ 


V 


l68. 


GIPSY'S   RjBTUJtN. 


*  I 


"  Finally,  Guardy,  I  came  to  ^  conclusion  that  I 
would  do  ndther.  Both  Were  unplHtsant  jobs — at  least' 
they  would  have  been  unpleasant  to  you,  whatever  they 
mighrhaye  been  to  me,  and  would  have  taken  too  much 
time.^.  So  I  concluded  to  let  you  burden  the^rth  a  little 
longer,  and  quote  Soloilhon  for  the  edification  of  the 
rorld  genei^ally,  and  in  the  meantime  to  make  myself  as 
irceas  possible;  for  Fd  no  idea  of  staying  to  be 
khocked  about  like  an  old  dishcloth.  So  ^I  got  up,  took 
:'■  my  last  supply  of  pocket-money,  sjtole- down  to  the  sta« 
bles,  mounted  Mignbnne,  and  da^ed  off  like  the  wind. 
Poor  Mignonne  !  I  rather  .think  I  astonished  him  that 
ni^ht,  and  we  were  both  pretty  well  blown  by  the  time 
we  reached  Brande's  Tavern. 

"There.  I  took  breakfast,  left  Mignonne— much . 
against  my  will — ^jumped  into  the<nail-coach,  and  started 
|oc  the  city.  Arrived  there,  I  was  for  awhile  rather  at  tk 
loss  in  what  direction  to  turn  my  talents.  My  pre- 
*  dominant  idea,  however,  was  to  don  pantaloons  and  go 
to  sea.  Being  determined  to  see  th^Jions,  while  I  staid, 
;J  went  one  night  to  the  play^  saw,  a  little  girl  dancing, 
ll^d— Eureka !  I  had  discovered  wliftt  I^  was  bom  for  at 
I4st !  '  Couldn't  I  beat  that  ?'  says  I  to  mj^elf.  ^  And  so,- 
when  I  went  home,  I  juSt  got  up  before  the  looking* 
ii^  glass,  stood  on  bne  to^  and  stuck  the  other  1^  straight 
out,  as  she  had  Bone,  cut  ^a  few  pigeon-|vings,  turned  a 
somerset  or  two,  and  came  to  the  concludpn  that  if  I 
didn't  Ji>ecomc  a  danseuse  forthwith,  it  Would  pe  the  great- 
est losk  this  world  ever  sustained — the  falf^  of  Jerusalem 
not  excepted.  To  a  young  lady  of  my  genius  it  was  no 
very  difficult  thing  to  accomplish.  I  went  to  see  Qld 
Barnes,  who  politely  declined  my  services.  But  I  wasn't  ' 
going  '  to  give  it  up  so,  Mr.  Brown,'  and,  like  t^  widow 
in  the  Scripture^  I  gave  him  no  peace.llyht  i>r  Axf^  wat\\ 


\ 


I 
t 

s 
i< 

ti 
h 


M 


•1.  ^.:' 


\.j^l:  .  .  .ft.       ;.. 


%■ 


v 


-■^^ 


I  f 


G/Mr*S   iETUMN, 


I 


W^ 


dow-;.*  It  "•*  11*ne  there  I  wD'^^Z  ,r°'  "f  ^ 

Vork, and  eriryZLref . ,„„  "Jl'^*™'  *~  «°  New 

sorts  of  peoblT-ilLtr"  «»""  "P'-'i""'  from  all 

.     of  them  oKtowtsa^    i^lf '*"  "  SolomoD.  or  some"^ 

-^^iy^'^pi^ClZ^^J^f  bee.,  fro. 

Pnen  S'''v^uo^rrr^,t1^„  •>-'-  -.^.^  sped- 
ora^„ice„f  «„;;^,,';.-o -7-';S^er.«^ 

ron  honor,  now  ?" 

cou^^LT'^^^Ted'T^^/l?."';^  "'*"*'»» 
T  :w:»      -^1.       6'^"'^  jruurseii  in  such  a  wav  i"  e*;^ 

Luzie,  with  a  shockinfflv  shocki.H  -J«       •     ^      ®^** 
tenance.  '  ^^  snocked  expression  of  coun- 

i"  Degraded,  Auiu  Lizzie  r  exrInJm«/i  o« 

'sponsible,  da„i^bS  ^ce° IS' ""  »,rP~««bI^ , 
May  depending  o„  anyonTto  J  "^J"""  *•''  "  "» 
kicked  about  like  an  „?d  .h^  be  called  ,  beggw,  »ad 

thing  a  snappishVd  ,Ub  .rf"::'  o'ld  «n.f '""■'  *"•  "'^- 
his  absurd  oU  head     I  „,„  '  gentleman  took  into 

-«.-d  wM,  „^,  JoXXrltre^^^'"^- 

■nfob^r-^.  .^^^u^^f""""  ^"-'"^  honor 


■  t! 


'■  '-I 


/ 


,(lj 


*    SJ 


i, 


•yj 


.i':^' 


■•*■.■      i 


t« iW|ii<'i;jtf k:.» li^ ",;  ''■^j!\'-*%WfJ^,fli.i!SJ™ 


^»:Uv 


# 


i«4 


<*  Never-  i--r !  Obejr  ^^,  Indeed  f  Don't'  you  wish  I 
may  do  it  ?" 

"  Well,  but,  my  love,"  said  Lizzie,  returning  to  the 
charge,  "  though  it  is  too  late  to  repair  what  you  have 
done,  you  must  be  a  dancing^girl  no  longer.  You  must 
f^urn  home  with  us  to  Sunset  Hall." .-.;  -.fi  ^. 

"  Return  to~$unset  Hall  !  Likely  I'll  go  there  to  be 
abused  again !  Not  I,  indeed,  Aunt  Lizzie,;  much 
obliged  to  you,  at  the  same  time,  for  the  offer."  \  /    ^ 

"And  I  vow.  Miss  Flyaway,  you  shall  go  with  us — 
th^re 


"And  I  vow,  Guardy,  i  jfAnV/  go  with  you— there  !'*    . 

"I'll  go  to  law,  and  compel  you  to  come.  I'm  your 
rightful  guardian  !"  said  the  squire,  in  rising  wrath,  r 

"Rightful  fiddlesticks  !  I'm  no  ward  of  yours;  I'm 
Aunty  Gower's  niece;  and  the  law's  got  nothing  to 
do  with  me,"  replied  Gipsy,  with  ani^acious  snap  of 
her^ngers;  for  neither  Gips]^  nor  th^Sbys  kneW  how 
she  was  found  on  the  beach.  \ 

"  And  is  that  all  the  thanks  you  give  me  for  offering 
to  plague  myself  with  you,  you  ungrateful  little  var- 
mint?"    ^,,\ ;  y-.:^  „v  ^  ■"  \        '    ■ 

"  I'm  «^  ungrateful.  Squire  Brliston  !"  flashed  Gipsy 
— a  streak  of  fiery  red  darting  across  her  dark  face.  "  I'm 
«M/ ungrateful ;  but  I  won't  he  a  slave  to  come  at, your 
beck  ;  I  4|m'/  be  called  a  beggar-^-a  pauper  ;  I  won't  be 
told  the  wbrkhouse  is  my  rightful  home;  I  won't  be 
struck  like  a  cur,  and  then  kiss  the  hand  that  strikes  me. 
No !  I'm  not  ungrateful ;  but,  though  I'm  only  a  little 
girl,  I  won't  be  insulted  and  abused  for  nothing.  I  can 
earn  my  own  living,  free  and  happy,  without  whining 
for  any  one's  favpr,  thank  Heaven  !" 

Her  little  form  seemed  to  tower  upward  with  the  con- 
scioutness  of  inward  power,  her  eyes  filled,  blazed,  and 


h.'fc"."'/'-.' 


'16 


V 

C 
z 


U! 

L 


t-\ 


^fJ*Sy*S    RETURN. 


(f 


#' 


%? 


;;'^^^i 


^d,  and  her  dark  ohLk  c,ta,ooe|„i.h  p„„,  d^ 

on  tle^Thl^SlirV*'*'^ "'S^*^  '- ^O-'^'O" 

•  as  haughty  a?a?ul^^     T""c"  "^'dingWar*  him, 

he  cau|htr.^!:i'lZ''So„'^[:^S^^^^^^^^    -V 
short,  dancintr  curls  a«s  hi*  coi^  •     Y  ®*'^°''*°S  ^^^ 

»i8ht  use  .*?  s^olred  baby  i'"  '"'  '""y^'  '-^  -« 

•  oM"l°','^;d"? '  vl^rH'""'^  allowance  for  an 
and  «.isehi«vt  haX  anllt  :""  ^^^^^^ 
with  you  ,  and  if  I  Jd  Wsh  fh  nT  i.  "**  '?.  ^  ""^-^ 
good,  you  knoi^?  ^  «^  "  "^^  all  for  your 

.    ain-.  going  to  L  us^'jf/'  I  ba'i^rdd'^'r'i  T  '  ' 
without  any  regard  for  my  dia^^  "TThT-    ^°*? 

so  indignant  an  expression  of  cou^inXe  fhT*  t-'' 
—who,   as   I   befonp   m«„.;       7^" °'®°**\ce,  that  Archie 

I  won't,  then— there  »"  «iiU  n;  ..      \  '*  ^» 

■y:    But  the  tUrs  rush^to^^  ^P^^'  ™'^^''  s^"<^K:  , 
was  very  fond  wtfe'^^t^Hf-^^^^^  ^ 

Gipsy  was  off  the  squire's  knel/nnT!  ^  "°°'*"' 

2ie's  neck.  ^  ^°^  **®''  ^'^^s  round  Liz- 

"Wliy,  aunty,  did  I  make  you  crv?  Oh  lU  V  % 

Please  don't  cry,  dear,  d^arJn^y^^'      ^'^  '^'^'^^  ^ 

"  Yes ;  and  poor  M 


Si 


In   Gowcr  willOieak  lier  heart 


'*   A 


■,S^ 


"■n-4 


V-^v 


-•*■■-■ -,c 


ri 


■•  V 


/\ 


A 


y  0rj>SY^s  JtMrtrnN. 


L  when  sheheftrs  about  it— I  know  she  Wil,l/'  said  Louis, 
in  a  lachrymose  tone.  ,Vw  ^■ 

"  And  Til  break,  n»ine— Iknow*!  will !"  added  Archie,    , 
rubbing  his  knucltles  into  his  eyes,. and  with  some  d^- 
culty 'Squeezing  out  a  tear.  ^ 

/  **  And  I'll  blow  my  stupid  old  drains  out^;'  and_«//fr 
^  thaiy  I'ii  break  my  heart,  too,"  diimed  in  the  squire,  in  a 
veiy  meli^ncholy  tone'oLvoice.  ,.    •        -  "     , 

^WelU  la  ^et!  ydu'Il  have  ratlil  ft  dmashittg  time  ' 
of  it  if  you  all  break  youf  he%(:ts.  H^hat'll  you  clo  with 
the  pieces,  &uardy  ? — sell  them  for  marbles?"  said  Gipsy, 
■  l^ghing;-     .?■'  '>    •^■■•-  >-"^;A/'    '■■    -:,^''-:  >,■■—-•..■    ^ 

"There!  I  kneW, you'd  relent' ;  I  said  it  Oh,  Gipsy, 
my  darling/I  knew  you  wouldn^'t  desert  your  '^  Guardy '  in 
his  old Jige.  I  knew  you  wouldn't  let  him  go  down  to  his 
grave  like  a  miserable,  consumptive  old  tabby-cat,  with 
no  wicked  little  'imp'  to  keep  him  from  stagnatinj^. 
^  Oh,  Gipsy^my  dear,  may  Heaven  bless  you  !"    **        -' 

"  Bother !  I  haven't  said  I'd  go.  Don't  jump  at  con- 
clusions. Before  I'd  be  with  you  a  week  you'd  be  ^w- 
ing  me  up  sky-high."  * 

"But,  Gipsy,  you  know  I  can't  live  without  blowing 
somebody  up.  You  ought  to  make  allowance  for  an  old 
^  man's  temper.  It  runs  in  our  family  to  blow  up.  I  bad 
an  uncle,  or  something,  that  was  '  blown  up'  at  the  battle 
of  Bunker  Hill.  Then  I  always  feel  after  it  as  amiable 
as  a  cat  when  eating  her  kittens.  'After  a  stori^  there  ; 
Cometh  a  calm,*  as  Solon^on  says."  \ 

"  Well,  \paybe  there's  something  in  that,"  said  Gipsy, 
thoughtfully.         ^  ■  •» 

"  And^you  know,  my  love,"  said  Lizzie, , "  that,  though 
a  little  girl.  mlqF.b»  a  dancer,  it's  a  dreadful  life  for  a 
young  woman — which  you  will  be  in  two  or  three  years.    ■ 
No  one  ever  respects  a  dancing  girl ;  no  gentleman  ever 

ildawrry  youi"  '  ===== 


.«^ 


^^^^S   Ji£TUJiJ^^ 


-"'^^ 


wouldn't,  somebody 'd  lose  th^'  convulsed.    -  If  ^^l 

somest  y^ung  lady  on Yhrterr^^^^^^^^  hid! 

It.  as  'hadn't  oughter/Wer^r  S^'^^^' ^»»«"Sh  I  say 
.  cotamit  suicid^^rif  I  donT  it^?K  ^°"  ^"^^-^  going  to 
^  Barnes  must  lose  the  TiJ'J'^  r"'  ^  S"PPosen>ld 
'    P^f.  and  I  must  return  to^^r^'J^^^^^ 

sweetness  on  the  desert  a"r"     \^^'^^  ^^^me  my 

the  squire  couli  part  wUhf^'  "at/f  -'^T^^  ^''^ 
her  to  go  to  rest.  ^"T®  ^»*«°»   aod  alK^ 

fcotel,  began  ib„,i„g  6>f  '^'J'f -  apd.  gotag  ,o  th. 

J*"  noted  for  his  ^  ircHo^  h      k'^-L"^  '"«'  °"H 

pleasant  way  of  sMHm„  a-  ""  '"  «''«  kennel-J 

wWledealing  wi*  fc*:?::'n.""'='"'*  ""O  '»™«^- 

Three  days  aff#.r  t^  •     "'^  ''^"^  "*gh  d^maires. 
well,  and  ent^reS^,^r,nS'.h '^''"  .^x^^Ur. 

In  due  coiifjiA  «*  ••        ,"' *^  ot.  Mark's.  /    i 


•l( 


, .  +:^' 


■k 


$ 


-<>' 


.   Gbod'Mri^  Go^er  ,°:r^  "J'.Pe^ mine.     "^^ 
darting  w^^,/^'f~"^'^r<»ly^^^^ 

listening  to  tlie  iproar  that  iJ.  t  '^  ""'x  when- 
footsteps  of  the  s^d^.rult-*!'?"^"'  ^""o""**  «■• 
vinced.    -  "«^' •'■a*  "he  could  be  con- 

A.forCe)e.e.nott^„^^^^^^^>^,^^^^     . 


■■-/.- 


•»'    .. 


■  '*■■ 


"«"-"'— •"—"T r»---f«iMir 


tr '. 


:*i%^" 


#, 


|68 


;>.;■■  ■  /■  \ 


1.'/    t 
'♦■■  .4  , 


<s,    -*•  = 


UPSY'S   RETUR. 


.  with  joy,  me  sp|k  the  diffeif  neei|iid 
.Mis^  I^gar's  g-rlDi  face  ll^k|ed  i^Gipsy! 

'^nto^  theif  quiet]  ^ly^e  l*l|„Mai?*     '    ' 
\    iilg  e^lerything^^n 
'Crally  took  the 


n^d,  throw* 


h  '*^ppd  disbrder,^  that  it  gen-  ;^ 
aiPI<  little,1i4s^wepeii,OTfestejM|fti^ 
day  tq^t  thmg^  fc<5^#ts 'afte|hail|ip4;t .  j  ^^  m  ^  ^- 

^     ^I^S^P^beti^-titWii'^M 

of  thej|^pyoung'g^r%^loJ^',l^P'el#^   ■ 
'orfcl;^  return  "of  Gipl;j^^  ptl^t  became 
f^ibni' likewise.    Loath  as  the  sqiiire  was  / 
eij he lelf-he  miist  d(^i|:,''isMid  urged  Miss%  "; 
'elest^  to  accompany  petr.  <  ,  * 

|>siy  ¥H^df fend' her  from  the  n;^ce  of  M^^^ 
*\     ''3iin<ft%('twog:irls  will  be  compiny  foj^ach  other,"  said 
%.5riKe  ol^  m#n  to  the  ^spinster.    "  Qirls  «Sr/  know  how  to 
^      ^,.  Wi^hattelFrwch^and  bkng  on  apiano,  anil  • 

i^ .         W**  ^^^  dogs,  and  411  su(A  /   So  let  little  s||owdrop,  here, 
ii^'l"*"'      go  with  my  monkey,,  and  I'll  foot  the  bilh'V 
"    '  \i,    :        i^|iss  Hagaj^  oonseQ,ted  ;  and  a  month  {%er  found  our 


H      < ,. 


'■■  :^.- 


little  rustic  lasses — our  fair  "l^tar  of  the  Valley  "  and 
our  mouotaiii  fairy^t^oying  ia  the' new  world  of  board- 
inglschoQlL 


/ 


»«^^ 


^      fc 


CHAPTER  XVIII 


I  '• 


M' 


,.  .■    ■       ■;■  ARCHIE.^      ■■•,'    k":'.    ' 


\ 


jj? 


■i'  y 


and'Sres.e  ^/'"'  «l.e  children,  Gip» 
'   five  y^^'Mtt^:Z  ?h""°™'  '« '"S' 
.      adies  pf  seventeen  "sl^'t'S  1*^"  >?"-« 
Louis  nor  Archie  has  ml?^         '^^^  »«'">««■ 
Celeste,  since  the  time  they  n,ri?»        ""'"^  ®W,  or 
""h  all  the  change  that  ,2^*.         ^^^  '°  ^''ege :  Md 
»«ce,  it  is  doubtful  XetEh!    *°"^'  ^  "'<^'-«Ppei. 
°-e  a«otJ»..„o^,  H^"^,,'"*^  "ouid  even  rec^e 

^^^'^S'^^A^tt  '-'  ^-"vift^r  the 
usual  ficlcieness  of  youth  inst^H    z"^^*  '  '""  '"h  the 


^olent  to  trouble  herself  3.^;  i:'**>JIWstooin. 
er.llywehtdtavisittoNiw^'i*^'"'"'''?  "he  gen. 


-^ 


■i     ■M 


-•»  -^  - 


''"il 


^  «f^i 


""'»^:r*^*<^, 


.Tssr*, 


*',  f- 


A-V 


.-»''^'' 


\  4 


7  V  ;: 


.!>. 


V    I 


Y 


'\ 


f^ns^^yrtil    As  f/r  Gipsy  and  Celeste,  their, 
faithless  boy-loters  seemed/to  have  quite  outgrown  their 
earJjr  aflfection  for  them.     /  i 

.Then,  when  the  time  came  for  them  to  graduate,  and 
make  chpice  of  a  profession,  Squire  Erliston  found  that 
young  Mr.  .Oranmorewpuld  neither  be  doctor,  lawyer 
nor  clergyman  ;  nor  even  accept  a  post  in  the  army  or 

u  y  Tl!^?^''"  s*^^ 'h«  squire,  during  an  interview  he 
had  with  him  ;  "  what's  your  objection  ?"  .  ,     ^  . 

?'Why,  my  dear  grandfather,"  replied  Louis,  "you 
should  have  tgamuch  regard  for  your  suffering  fellow- 
Wrtalstotnakeadoctorofme.  As  for  being  a  la wydr' 
I  ha^ent  rascalitjf  enough  Yor*that  yefy  and  I've  too 
much  respect  for  the  church  to'take  holy  orders.  Neither 
does  the  camp  nor  forecastle  agree  with  me.  I  have  no 
particular  love  for  forced  marches  or  wholesale  slaugh- 
t6r;  nor  do  I  care  over  much  for  stale  biscuit,  bilffe-  " 
water,  and  the  c^t^o'^e-tkik ;  so  I  must  e'en  declhie  >  ^ 

■  ** Then  what  in  th#name  of  Eteaven  wi/iyou be ?' '  ex- 
claimed the  squire.  ^  r^  V 
r  ^  «  An  artist,  sir  ;  an  artist.  rfeaW  has  d^ined  me 
for  a  pointer  I  feel  something  within  me  that  tells  me  I 
will  yet  win  fatne  and  renown.  Let  me  go  to  Europe— 
to  Germany  and  Italy    and  study  tiie  works  of  the  glo- 

^:Zo^^'  ''^  ^  ""*  ^^'  "^"  ^  °^"^  you  wilAiot 
"  Glorious.Qld  fiddlesticks !  Go,  if  you  \ike,  but  I 
never  expected  to  find  a  grandson  of  mine  suc^  a  fool ! 
1  he  heir  of  Mount  Sunset  and  its  broad  landsl  the  heir 
of  Oranmore  Hall,  and  old  Mother  Oranmore'i  yellow 

vr/tlL' H°1^.*' ^' P^"^'""' **^^°"''^-^    G°  and  waste 
^  time  dadbmg  canvas  if  you  will,  I'll  be  hanged  il^C . 

'••■■■-■  -         '"  ..         y'  ■  ■ 


■■1  V 


r.; 


'^''^'"^o7€Cr:t'^^'°V^'  «'"»<"  the  8irl, 
Europe  without  "^i„TS  ""^  "  '™"'''  »"^  '»' 

"are^  gS^';;^b/^'^^f «  yire,  turning  to  Archie; 
'•No  sir"  J^]-  !,  J     ^  """"^  turn-painter,  too?" 

in  9ther  w^rds,  a  lawver      A  T*''"?^«»-««--aknave; 

•tune,  IVe  n^  mire  ^ItL  ^t.^'  ^x"^"'^"^'  ''^^"^  for- 

.     milliner,  bejond  pa  '  ^t  mv  \      \  ^  *^"^^  ^^^  '"'"^nff 

So  Archie  wLt  to  W^^J         ""^^^  ^^'^"»  ^^'^^'•^des^ 
for  the  bar.  '  ^^^^^shington,  and  began  studying 

->f  spend  heV  vSJT^P;^^ --»P^<^  thej^s 
Celeste  alwa^^  returned  home  £rM  ^^""^'^iMncJ 
reserved,  and  proud,  was  Sfn  ?*;"°^"«'  <^<^^ 
though  Celeste  was^  beloved  h  ^"V^^^^^d  by  all ;  ad. 
,  faction  forbade  IS  to  W^M^^^^'^bod^rduty  a  a« 
pleasure.  leave  \AI,ss  Hagar  for  her  own 

Such  a  pest  and  a  KTsheTa  ''"k^  ''°^«  ^<^'«-  ' 

and  enjoying  the-fuWw!^;.!?:  ^'?'>''  »"«• 'ookinfTa 

Gipsy  was  spending  the  winter  w^fL'  u""  '"'"°''- 
Jennie  Moore,  at  WashL«"rTh ',h  "  ''.''""''"''•• 
nn.tedfcrtunes  are  the  suW^?'„f Tt-  V'.'^.S'ris,  whose  ' 


.»• 


..w 


most/^^^^^^^ulfr behind  all,  H^e  restless, eU  ivou/d  not  ' 
stud3^Vas  a/wqys  At  the  foot  of^her  class,  and  only 
lai%hed3t  the  grave  lectures  of  the  teachers  ;  knd  yawned 
horribly  oVer  the  rulesjL|Mjj|t  and  the  trying  names 
4ti  her  botany..  So  pdiPISfPTI^t  Um  bdHer  than  when 
''she  entered,    ■-  i  ' ,  .%:■ '-1,  ■  "-^  ^^  ^: : .' va  ' '   -.:'  :   "  :;;   ,. 


% 


The?  foidiiig-doors  of  Mr.  Mdore's  s^acious^  drawing- 
•oora  were  thrown  open,  blazing  with  light  and  radiant 
,Vith  brilliantly-dressed  ladies.  Misls  Jennie  had  resolved 
that  the  first  ball  should  surpass  anything  that  h^d  taken 
place  that  winter.  All  the  g/ifg  of  the  dty,  wealth,  beauty 
fashion,  g^Uantry^  arid  talent,  were  mingled  in  gay  con- 
fusion.- There  were  soft  firstling  of  silks,  arid  waving  of  * 
perfumed  handkerchiefs,  and  flirting  of  fans,  ^feirtinir 
of  6f//es I  and  bright  ladies  castkilling glances  from  their 
briHfipt  eyes;  and  gentlemen  bowed  and  smiled,  arid 
P^*°  **'^**™«**'s,  and  talked  all  sorts  of  nonsense,  and 


^ 


■^ 


"  All  weni  meriy  as  a  marriage  bell.'' 


'  Neai-the  upper  en<f^f  the  rom  the  belle,  pat^  excgii 

*^1'  *^**^'o  %  ^o^'il'her  traiii  flowed  all  that  were 

witlSest,  %fli%aygSt,  and  loveliest  there.     Whenever  sAt 

moved,  ^-jjirong  of  admirers  follpwed  j  am]  where  the 

lauerhter  wa^3lkiiH«>s»    th*-  m;.-*kl  jei^^uv...    «.i^  , 

the  crowd 

att|ActieQ/ 

tutiful 

lectedfor 

id  the  room 


-^ 


And  yet  shjS:was  npi 
§4.     when  compared  withj^ 

^  ,li|r.    3he  is^oating  I 
W  y^wflii  a  distinjguished^ 
i  see  her."  » 


ifuf  f ^t  least, 
f  ^here  Wlio  were  ri 
fpa  gay  wklte  roiil 
•eigner,  and/ 1  will  paint  her  as 


1 M.  ^.*'*^"'  ^%*^'  straight,  lithe  %ure,  airy  and  bird- 
like  »n  ite  motions,  skimming X^verthc^  floor  without" 


':\ 


ARCHIE. 


173 


'% 


V 


•eeftiingto  touch  it;  never  at  rest;  but  quick  sudJen 
abrupt,  ,„d  „,„,i      i„  ,„  .^^  ^^^   •      yetTe";  moS 

'  '^Tf-  ®'r'"«  "'"•  '"*•     A  daric;  bright.  fa"ghZ 
.  ■  hule  face,  that  no  one  Icnows  whether  it  is  haidso^e  of 

of  Llfl  •""''. '°  '^'"'ching.  so  sparkling,  So  full 
cnrr  »w  '"?  ■"T''  '""  ■"'«='"«'•  Short,  crSp  black 
"""'•/^""•"'•■e  'he  sauciest  little  head  in  the  world  • 

Z'^i  """I*' """  "^•""^  always  laoghingto  display 

ji^Keader,  do  you  recognize  her?  »  " 

fatii'^'' Je^'i^M"''"  '""  "■"  ""■'«.  tir^  and  a  little 
Z^^^  •  '  «<««.»  pretty,  graceful  girl,  came  up 
'o  her,  saying,  m  a  low  voice  :  s     .       «=  up 

»  ll!^  V- «''"^'.'i'*'"'  "  ''™"ge"-  «o  introduce  to  you- 
a  a^t  <ft.*»^.Arrfone.    One  of  the  cleverest  and  most 
.  talented  young  lawyers  in  Washington  •• 

"distinguished  !  Now,  I'm  tired  to  death  of  •  distin- 
guished-  people ;  they're  all  a  set  of  bores_u^  y  *  si„ 
and    pedantic  as    *hoolmaste.j     Don't   st^U'/ ^ 

"  Oh  but  Mr.  Rivers  is  not ;  he  is  youn^.  handsome 

"Mi^worth  whatr  exclaimed  Gi  J||ftrinirine  to 
her  feet^so  impulsively  that  her  friend  0|bS^      ' 
Why,  what's  the  matter?"  said  J^fTin  surDrise    * 

"Nothing!    nothing!"  said  Gipsy,  hastily     '?^^ 
did  you  say  it  was?"  »"*/•       vvno 

«M^  Archibald  Rivers,  student-at-law."        " 
you  think  I  look  anything  like  I  did  when  you  first  saw 
"  Why,  not  much.    You  were  a  tawny  little  fright 


■•fi 


»»■' 


ARCHIB, 


then  ;  you're^  almost  handsome  now,"  said  the  candid 
Jennie.  - 

"Then  he  won't  know  me.  Jennie,  will  you  oblige 
by  introducing  Mr.  Rivers  to  me  under  an  assumed 
name?"  ♦ 

,»«Why "   '  •  \'  ;■  ^  ^    ■_  ■; 

"There!  there!  don't  ask  questions  ;  ril  tell  by  and 
by.    Go  and  do  it."  {  . 

"Well,  you  have  always  some  new  crotchet  in  your 
Crotcl^ety  little  head,"   said  Jennie,   as  she   started  to 

,  In  a  few  moments  she  reappeared,  leaning  on  the 
arm  of  the  « distirtguished  "  Mr.  Rivers.  Our  Archie 
has  not  changed  as  much  as  Gipsy  has  done  during 
these  years,  save  that  he  has  grown  taller  and  more 
manly-iooking.  He  has  still  his  frank,  handsoihe,  boy. 
ishface;  his  merry  blue  eye  and  boisterous  manner  a 
ViV//^  subdued.  ,  ^'     ; 

Xhe  indistinct  tone  in  which  Miss  Moore  introduced 
him  prevented  him  from  catching  the  name,  but  he 
scarcely  observed  ;  and  seeing  in  the  young4^y-wl(iose 
lips  were  now  pursed  up  and  whose  eyes  were  cast  mod- 
estly on  the  floor,  a  shrinking,  bashful  girl,  he  piiarita- 
bly  began  to  draw  her  out. 

"There  is  quite  an  assembly  here  this  evening,"  was 
his  original  remark,  by  way  of  encouraging  her.  V 

-    "Yes,  sir,"  was  the  reply,  in  a  tone  slightly  tremu-  ^ 
lous,  which  ^ascribed  to  maiden  bashfulness. 
^  "What  a  delightful  young  lady  your  friend.  Miss 
Moore,  iV' continued  Archie. 
;-;■  "Yes,  sir.".  '  .■,.  :'.  ■...:;,./  ■  ^  • ;- ■'^■^'^  ^-:- ■^^"  v'/ -.r: 

"There  are  a  great  many  beautiful  ladies  in  the 
room.*' 

/  "Yes,  sir."        ■    ■     ^    ^  ;  -,^[, 

^^Confound  her^  muttered  Archie,   "can  the  My 

"     ■     ^         '    '       '       '■  ^ 


V 


•\ 


.^' 


*AJiCIf/Jl 


175 


nothing  but  ^Yes,  sir9\  Btit  the  moat  beautiful  lady 
present  IS  by  my  side/'he  continued;  aloud,  tb  see  how 
she  would  swallow:  so  palpable  a  dose  of  flattenr 

^^?^*^,'  '^'^'^^''^^^^o^'    I  wonder  if  the  girl's 

an  Idiot!    thought  Master  Archie.  Then/aloud:    «Do^: 
you  know  you're  very  beautiful  ?"  ' 

"Ves.     Iknow  it."  -.  4         ^^ 

_    A  stare  of  surprise  followed  this  answer.    Then  he 
continued :  '  • 

"Vouarea  most  bewitching  young  lady  !    Never 
was  so  much  charmed  by  anybody  inipy  life  r» 
"Sorry  I  can't  return  the  compliment/' 
"Hallo  !"  thought  Archie,  rather  taken,aback.  "She's 
not  such  a  fool  as  I  took  her  to  be.     What  do  you  think 
of  that  lady!"  he  added,  poii^ting  to  a  handsome  but 
dark-complexioned  girl,  whom   report  said  would  one 
day  be  Mrs  Rivers. 

"Oh!  I  don't  think  her  pretty  at  all—she's  such  a 

Archie  gave  a  little  start  at  the  name.    Poor  Gipsy  I 
he  had  quite  forgotten  her  of  late.       ' 

^"poyouknow,"hesaid,"I  once  had  a  little  friend 
called  Gipsy  ?    Your  words  recalled  her  to  my  memory.' 
You  remind  me  of  her,  somehow,  only  you  are  hand- 
somer.     She  was  dark  and  ugly." 

"  Indeed  !    Did  you  like  her  ?"  : 

'  .  "Ye-ee-s-ajittle,''  said  Archie,  hesitatingly;  «sh^ 
r'.*  ^^^^^^"^  things-black  a^  a  squaw,  and  I 
don  t  think  ||w#^ery  fond  of  Aer,  but  she  was  very  fond 
of  me.'  ^^w>.  ■  ■•;,./■...,■■-■.■  •/■■^-  :'...-:;,.  ■;-. 

"Indeed,  sir t"  said  the  young  lady,  a  momentary 
flash  gleaming  from  her  dark  eyes  ;  «  she  must  have  been 
«  bold  girl,  rather,  to  let  you  know  it." 


\     t 


h 


. ' 


if 


176 


archie: 


l!!i  •■. 


.* 


V- 1 


«  She  was  bold-^the  boldest  girl  ever  I  knew,  with 
nothing  gerjtle  and  worpanty  about  her  whatever." 
What  did, you  say  her  name  Vas?"     '   -. 

«  Gipsy-Gipsy  Gower  You  seem  interested  in  her.'^ 

1  am,  sir~-I  know  her." 

"  Kw  dor  cried  Archie,  aghist.  ^K       ' 

.    "Yes,  sir  ;  but  I  like  her  no  more  tlian  you  doV    She 

was  a  rqugh  uncouth  savage,  detested  by  every  Qne  who 

SSb/'l^d  '^^"^.^^-rtun.  to  be  liir  roo^nlat^i^ 

school,  and  she  used  to  bore  jne  dreadfully  talking  about 

■     -h:^;^^^  '-'"'''  ^'^^y  ^-  -fwhom^ 

*  rl^^7'T\  ^  '^"*^  '^y  "°'-   She  usid  io  say  hWas 
a^n^ular  fool-always  laughing.    She  said  sh4  never' 
knew  such  a  gr^ny  in  all  her  life."  .  \  h 

f.  ^'•^!^^''  suddenly  wilted  down,  and  hadft't  a  word 

to  say.    Just  at  that  moment  a  party  of  Gipsy's  friends 

•  came  along,  and  it  was  :  :       ^-  ^  ^     "^^W 

CO  "  ?^'  ^T^  '  ^*P'y  •  O*'*  Mis^  Gower  !  we've  been 
searching  all  over. for  you.  Everybody's  dying  of  the 
blues,  because  you  are  absent    Do  come  with  uf  •" 

abattTthmsH'^^  sea^  asthough-hehadreceived 

« voice,  as  she  pasded  l|im  :  .  . 

^hJ-^^?r^7h  '°  G^Psy  »v«en.yoase^l,er.    Tell 
.IWjr  what  I  said  aiout  Archie,"  and  sfi/wasg6ne.     • 

'^^i^.JT^^'^"^'^^^  ^^'^"^  *^  crestfallen  as  a 
.young  laW>er  possessed  of  ^  large  stock  of  jativ^  impu- 
dence  coilld.welVdo.    There  le^  sto6d  aC   latXd 
S^^y  "^^^  °f^e^  been  sq  magnetic,  so  bewTtchi„t 
'^^••^ing  in  her^hfe  before.    Never  by  chance  diU 

■/>-  .  :  ^   ;'-^>',    :-■■*■■-   '--'4  'i.-r  •■.V  ',' 


•#'!*': 


-¥, 


n   tW 


-S^ 


.  « 


%  ' 


l^ 


with 


ler.' 


ARCHIE, 


1 

-%-:. 

She 
ivhp 

■    ■       '■  -      1                            ■) 

■■■.\.;:;, 

e  in 

-        -     ;        ' 

tout 

,    vx^  ■■ 

lom  if!* 
ked 

ver' 
3rd 


^^^' 


sen 
lie 

m 

ed 

/  ^ 

m 

tic 

/    1 

">. 

ell 

n- 

a 

u- 

Jd 

^, 

id^ 


i 


WIj 


would  ever  think  of  finding  vX^Gk^r  G,l*  •"^"^ 
of  the  belles  ol  Washingto^     Haj  jt?l,  "t^  '"  °"' 

exanipleand  do  L  Lm^'-  ^'P'J'' '  "^Uow  your,. 

-'  Minn^h  """'i:^'  "'  'Be  evening  Archie  threw  him-' 

than  one  f.ir  cheeic  aush^.!h7m:rXo„e';»rof 
fright  eyes  grew  hfjghter,  aS  their>ownerl.°Mr„»d     -.t    ' 

^  ine  Handsome  young  Iawy,er.     He  was.  if  not  /Af  h^S  ^ 

.omesvat  ,«.s,<^,  thehandso««,t,«inrt^r^ 

•   '     '■'  ■  ■    %  ■^-  ■•*-■'      i  '         '   ■•  '         -a-^- 

.    '    '•    '         "Slli^^i?^  ^^'P^ny  glance,  .  .' 

That  seldom  lady%  heart  resists/' 

.-      And  eclipsed  belles  nused  their  graceful  heads  in 
triumph,  to  -find  the-  be  Jlderiftg  Giosv  had  nnT^    ^ 

>und  that  those  "tnerry,  glance^"  wer^iorfor  thcT 

>:  <  but  to  iHque  the  jealousy  of  the.evening  star.         ^"|*  / 

r'  ™..^^     ?  company  dispersed  he  soughtn^ut  6ipsy  whcf  ^^ 

k  ^thdrawing'herselffrom.the  reveler!,  stood/sSInd    ' '' 
alone,  by  the  window.  •       -  V  '     •    '  *°°      . 

'IGipsyr  he  said,  gently?    '      ''         .• '       .  .-^A 

«^l!l!Il-^*^  said,  drawing  herself  t^,.  M'^-yA 


'     u  V      '  ^.  '  "'^f^'ng  nerseif 

.__  Fosgive  me,  Q^psy,  for  ^hat[ I  said." 


■■^' V 


'•%. 


SKi.V'ij'S.. 


ii 


=^ 


^i 


V 


.m, 


m 


^>- 


ARCHIE. 


"  IJiave  nothing  to  forgive  I    I  rather  think  we  are 
quits  !"  replied  Gipsy,  coolly. 

"Well,  make  up  friends  with  rae,  and  be  a  little  like 
the  Gipsy  I  used  to  know." 

.  "r^**^  What !  like  that  black  little  squaw-— that  bold, 
ugly,  half-crazy  thing  ?  You  astonish  me,  Mr.  Rivers  !" 
"  Yes,  even  so,  Gipsy  ;  you  know  it'i  all  true ;  and 
I'll  be  the  same  'regular  fool,  always  laughing.'  Then 
shake  bands  and  call  me  Archie,  as  you  used  to." 
- — ^  Well,  now,  I  don't  know,"  said  Gipsy—f*  I  don't 
think  1  ought  to  forgive  you." 

"  Don't  think  about  it,  then,    Noriserise,  Gipsv/-you 
know  you'r'e  to  be  my  little  wife !"  ""^^ 

She  laughed  and  extended  her.hand,'though  her  dark  ' 
cheek  grew  crimson.   ' 

"Well,  there,  I  forgive  you,  Archie.     Will  that  do? 

And  now  let  us  go  into  the  supper-room,  for  I'm  starving. 

One  of  my  early  habits  I  have  not  outgrown — ^and  that  is, 

\%,  most  alarming  appetite." 

"  Now  I  sltell  have  her  all  to  myscJlf  for  the  rest  of.the 
evening,"  thought  Archie,  as  he  sto6d  beside  her,  and 
watched  triumphantly  the  many  savage  and  ferocious 
glances  cast  toward  him  by  the  gent^em^n. 


mistaken  ;  for 
off — that  he  was 
ttte  most  stupid 


But  Archie  found  himself  slightly 
Gipsy,  five  minutes  later,  j^old  him  to  be 
,   ah  old  bore,  and  not  half  as  agreeable  as 
^ofherbeaus.    Then  laughing  at  his  mbrtifie^  face,  she 
danced  and  flirted  unmercifully,  leavin/^  Mr.  Rivers  to 
think  she  was  Ihe  most  capricious  elf  th£  ever  tormented 
•  a  young  lawyer.  *  ,^  ^ 

Every 'day  for  a  week  after  he  Was  a  constant  visitor 
at  Mr.  Mobre's.  And  every  day  for  a  week  he  went 
away  as  he  caknOe,  without  seeing  Gipsy.  She^vas  al- 
ways out  riding,  or  driving,  of-  **npt  at  home,"  ihdugh 
he  could  see  her  plainly  laughing  at  him"5l  the  window. 


A*' 


,f« 
e 


'  ^ 


•*■•% 


fit « 


\|H<»;.    „. 


■•.iff- 


m 


So  Archie  fell  a  prey  to  "0T«Pn  o«'^  "     n  "■'"• 

ru„i„ .. ,  '^    J'  *■"      s^agn  and  yellow  melavi. 

com.ag  respe<?t  he  had  for  the  laws  of  hif  cou«.l""  "^ 
fectly  charmin<r  in  h  Jh.'?lM"  .!  P"  P'^' '°°'"''»  P«<-- 


^^  -  «""  jruu  iiicrix  wit 

net,    said  Archie,  rather  sava^y. 

"I  enjoyed  myself  very  well,  as  Palwavs  do  An^  t 
must  beg  of  you  not  to  speak  W  Sir  GeXTe  in^'h/"^^ 
Mr.rRivers.    I  won't  allow,  i^-^  '^   '  '  '^^  ^*^ 

"Oh,  you  won't  rv  sneered  ArA  "Yoti  seem  tn 
thmk  ayreat  deal  c^Hi^m,  Miss  Gower. -  ^  "  '- 

f..M  ^'  .''•^  "'''''■"'  ^^'^'"-  -^^'«  ^'^  handsQme-so  D6r' 
fectly  gentleman  ike-so  agreeable,  and  sc^ WhC 
else,    He's  a  reallove  of  ^  man/'  ,  V-if^  •    S- 

j"Oh!  the  deue6  take  hfto!"  -  .  '     '   "J         '; 

«y  to_y<,u.th.s  long  u^e,  but  yjou^ave  b,^n  so  precis 


«•    i 


v 


'•«. 


J      4 


''^"■t. 


•a 


<  *, 


.^:m- 


i8q^ 


AUC/riM^ 


hotnc 


careful  to  keep  out  of  my  sight,  I'v^ad  no  chance  tQ  say 
n.     Gipsy,  do  you  love  Sir  George  StW  ?"  f     ' 

**  Why,  Archie  !  to  be  sure  I  do  ''       ^  ''^ 

V"Oh.h.h!"  groaned  ArchJe. 

«  ^u^^  *  ^^^  '^*"®''  ^~S^°'  '**«  toothache  ?' 
,^h,dear,  no!    I  .have  the  heart-ache  !\        ^  ' 

^^orry  to  hear  it.  •  Better  go  to  Deep  ok  a»d*^con. 
suit  Doctor  Spider  about  it."  ^       r  »»«  «^o° 

/"  Will  you  come  with  me  ?" 
^       r^r.  ""^  objection.     I'm  going  ho^e  to-morrow 
«;;^.f:<i  l"st  as  lief  have  you  f or  ^  escon  I,  K 

St„!!J*^  you  are  not  goftig  to>  married  to  Sir  q^ 
.    Stuar^G.psy  ? '  exqlaimfed  Archie,  eagerly,       '   uT 
I  WTiy,  qot  just  now,  I  think."  /      '    ' 

" Gipsy»  would  you  marry  me?" 

-Well,  I  wouldn't  mind,  if  nobody  better  offers. "        ' 
i  Oh,   Gipsy  !   be  «otis  ;  don't  laugh  at  me  now 

You  know  you  promised,  wben  a  little  girl,  to^r; 
little  wife.     Will  you,  dear  Gipsy?"  ^      ^ 

toef'?'*'^'"^-^"^'  ^^  '  ^'"^  ''^^^^"ff  on  Sambo's 

A  howl  from!  an  unfortunate  black  pug  doff  testified  ' 
to  the  truth  of  this  reftiark.  -      ^  testihed 

HiH'l^?^''®^"''^?'^'''^^'"*^  creatureit    Poor  Sambo  I 

heart,  and  hand,  and  fortune  (though  I  don't  hanpen^o  ' 
have  such  a  thing  about  me),  and  she  begin"  Ifkin^ 
about  Sambo's  toe,.    That  girl  wUl  be  theTath  o    me""  ^ 

Stone,    Died  from  art  overdose  of  a  cotjuette  •  " 

And  Master  Archie  stamped  up  and  down,ai|d  flung 


-\:\ 


:^ 


•%«■ 


rv" 


^\--: 


•vA: 


'X^  V  '.1 


;.T<A 


.,.:^' 


.J    ■•«> 


::«a"' 


ARCHIM, 


f 


'i^t 


W^ 


4;  ^^p;^^^^^  With  an  uttcd^ai^^^^  exp.;.,; 

"    ino!!i~5  r^**"^  °°"'^"^®'''^y°"  goingon  with  thereT 

Kfl     l^'^^  ^^'^""^^  °^  comforting  Sam- 

bo,  arid  looking  at  him  in  surprise. 

^^•JNoiis^nsel^'exdaimed  Archie,  pausing  before  her 

kSl^i  ^1^^**"  ^?""°^  *^^'^  4™  y«"  will  haunt  you  in 
K^e  dead  hours  of  the  night,  ^en  everything  (bLt"h^A 

-vZ?rTVr'^^P'"^'  it'WilUe  eve^bef^e  you  in^ 
your  English  home,  when  you  arle  the  bride  of  Sir  George 
-  (ponfound  him  !)  Stuart ;  it  witlX-l"       -"^^^^^ 
.   _     But^Master  Archie  could  pEceed  no  further    for 
'    S'^h—    in  herchai^iaincrcSming:^ 
t!.L-.    K^'^  u™^l^  ^  desperate  eSprt  to  maintain  his 
gravuy^ut  the  effort  proved  afailuJe,  and^he  was  forced 
to  join  Gipsy  in  an  uproariou^eal.  \ 

t„^^^L^^^'^''*^'P^5^  wiping  h^  eyes,  "I  don't^" 
know  when  I  have  laughed  so  much."    \  T^- 

tn  !7^t:"  ^^'^^['^f'^"  high' dudgeofti pretty  thing 
to  laugh  at,  too  I  After  breaking  my  heart,  to  begif 
grinning  about  it.     Humph!"  t 

'*  You  looked  so  funny— you  looked "     * 

V  .    Gipsy's  voice  was  lost  in  another  fit  of  laughter 

"Come  now,  Gipsy,  like  a  good  gitl,  don't  lauk 

m/wifel'/         ^  "'''  ""'"  ^^"  °^^'^  "^^f  **  yo"  be 

f^nl^^^r'  >'°»:;^^^'-  «W  goose,  you!    1  never  in- 

r:}  ^?:^y^"'"  ^^•*^'  without  making  such  a  fuss  about 
It,    said  Gipsy.  ^ 

"  And  Sir  George,  tJipsy  ?"  . 

w.l?^'l^^''  '^i^'  '  ^''^  ^'"^  ^»s  ^^/  '^^  ^''"^^  last 
night,  and  he.sct>t)ut  for  England  this  morning." 


^^h:\ 


■*■    „-■ 


tSa 


:  /■ 


gijpsy's  daring. 


J     "Glad  to  hear  it,  Iln  sure     Anri   «««.   j        ' --"^ 
■  Jrcbie  and  don',  bieher  m"Tny  to°4^^or1  .S^'X 
. .  "P  ^y  things  and  star,  for  \««&ii^^^«.  """'  P'"" 
..  lou  little  tyrant '     Well  T  o«,  *«  ^ 

mind"  :        ^  '  ^  /^  ^,*^<^on^pany  you, 

■-     "Ju^t  as  you  please-only  ^le^;|te/' 
,  gi#        '''™'^'"^' .  A^-ept  this  ring  as^^etrothai 

■■■/----.-      p»    •■.'■■    ft  ' .    ■ 


v^ 


^      *■ 


4     ¥ 


/ ; 


f^^iijf- 


',J 


[li     »,  ■:/ 

11       '" 
I      ■  ' 


III 


CHAPTER  XIX.     y 

■■.■■.,.  n'  .  .■      ■     I    . 

■  .  ■     ■'■',.':     li       ■  ■    .' 

gipsy's  DARINO. 


«»«. "  It  js  a  ^rfiil  night ;  a  feeble  iriare 


IIPSY  was  once  more  at  Sunset  Hall.     Archii  i 

I    h»d  *»eor.ed  her  home  and  then  returned  to^ 

Washington.     He   would    have    mentioned 

their  engagement  to  the  squire,  and  asked  bis 

^      .-consent  to  their  union,  but  Gipsy  said  • 

."Ncjou  mustn-t.    1  ha^  a  fuss,. and  L I  don't  in- 


•;sa,' 


!•>■ 


=4«= 


Bray, 

>ack 

rou. 


_X_:i.: 


^   . 


7^: 


4     *^^^^^  ^^  VARING.     y  -i8j 

tend  to  be  married  for  two  or  three  .year/jret,  it  will  be 
,.   , tirhe  enough  to  tell  them  all  by  and  by  "/ 

.^^  So  Archie,  with  a  sigh,  was  forced  t/ obey  his  capri- 
cious little  love  and  eo  bark  «fr^r  «,oi>   Ic  P 
to  li.fr  hJm  ^^       ^       ^       "     '    "^^  «»M«»ng^  her  prom  se 
to  let  h  m  come  down  every  month  anJ  Wher  -for  she 
.  1VOU  dn't  write  to  him-it  was."too  m^h  boS^r"  ' 

There  wfrr-'"*  \^^^^  ^^^  old-^Tmes  at  St.  MarkV 
dW  ^f  ,^'P^>^  ^'  Sunset  Hall,  ke/ping  them  all  .from 

r»r^.,^       1^  u  ireaks.      Therei  was   M  nnette— the 

rDe;n'nV"V-T  ^^^"^if«l- »^ntee-livlng  alone 

bu^^^'  '^^  ^'"  '°^^°^  h4  gone  from  iLe  on 

lev    irher  rf  f  ^^^  '^'''  ^"^#  '^«  Star  of  the  Val- 
ley,  in  her  little  cottage    horabL_fh*.  *Qir«cf    i       i-  " 

maiden  the  sun  ever  .hofeupZr    %*'''"'"'  "'™''"'' 
r         If  Wftf  a  lovely  May  morniig.    The  aijj»as  made' 
jocund  v.th  the  songs -of  birds /the  totay  Cs^^ce 

Xp  g."^"^  °^  '."^  ^^'/'■-"= '"«  -- Je  SlTln 

_     Through  the  open  doors  a/d  windows  of  A^Hev  Cot- 

age  .he  bnght  May  ,unbeX  fell  warm  and  bright 

S  :^^"*V"u'"'°^'^  P*'<*«  on  the  white  floor,  and 
touched  gently  the  iron-gray  locks  of  Miss  Hagar  ^  ste 

ZZ^ff-  " V  ^T  "'  f  *■•■  ^^'^  ^""-d  to  pass  on 
without  touching  her;  for  just  as  we  first  saw  her  a" 
X|y.e  Oranmore's  brWai,  the  same  does  si  appi:yt" 

fnl '^J''%''°°™?  "^"'''  a  young  gW,  tall ^nVgrace- 
ful,  dressed  m  soft  gray  muslin,  fastened  at  herWfnder    ' 
wa.s    by  a  gold-c^lored  belt.    Cm  this  young  Sv  te  -  ■ 

!S?h      T'  "^""y  ""'«  head,  with  its  wealth  of  L^ 


€i«**   J        iM  — '  — ••'K""^**!.  wuuiuiexion  ;  tne 

soft,  dovej^  i^s  of  blue ;  the  broad,  white  que^-nty 


'  i 


■—    -♦■  "i:i 


/      V    II 


v 


'■-,^ 


/■  ir 


184 


GIJ>Sy\S    DARING. 


forehead;   the  little,  rosy;  smiling  mouth     Yei  it  U 
her  pure  heart,  and  she  has  returned  the^  sTme  l?tU 

beegstirred  by  the  words  of  man.    "'?"  "^^ge"- /« 
,f«ie  stood  in  the  doorway,  gazine  with  SL  i- 
i  1"^^Parlcling  eyjes  on  the  balSy  beLrof  ?h^triX 

Tl^r''">,r'*'  »  "y""-  <>4n.titLde  and  lo™  ?o 
SuhJ!."';.^""^  ""=="">"""»«  her  mind 

^^ilftL-tn^nfrlHl^^^^^ 

me  perfectly  ravenous."^"  '  *^  8^op  has  made 

■fast*"^^U*rS'V'  ''*''*  ""*  °'  ">«■"  PresemlyforbKafc- 

of  a^l-wl    '-r''  m""^'^"''''"'*''  little Wlt^d- 
'  '  J  ,J       ^"Sf  «»<>?»«  «here,  and  come  in."      S 

'"   ..  i:;;^.??!     '''  *^'"'*"'  yo"  <'°»'t  «en>  to  thinit  it  siich 
^«  •W«>.»k  att  to  shoot  bijds  flowasyou  u^  to'"«i5 


\ 


^       vl 


think."  ^  ^®*^  "°  I'  "'  were^  starving,  I 

"^T^ ^^'^"'"^'-''^  be  it  spoken- 
shot  the  bird  that  r  ^  ^'  ?°"  remember  the  day  I 

fai„t,„8tothegrlijr''J7^i„f  rV"-"  ^•'"  '^" 
.  membrance.    ll :  1/  "*"*  ^^'P^y- laughing  at  the  re- 

^ing'^rihL'davr'^^id  rr  ""■" "-  ■"«"■•<» "«'« 

love  that  u„Iuok>Ht.lTbiS'l^' '■"'""«•     "HowI^V/ 

now?"  ^■^P"^'*^''!"?' J  wonder  where  he  is 

»e:<^^\^?-«""  >««t  Mrs-pranmore  t^!  / 
'      "Ves;  when  last  we  hearri  fr««,  k-     V    !      '         '      . 
tog  the  old  "-astervasrhe  ;alt^"„^,';L^7,^'"^^^ 
nies,  as  Guardy  calls  them    W^-J"' ""6  old  gran- -^ 

;    AndGipsy  wLun  *nH    k'  J^^  R^««^<1  ' "to  t^  house. 
'„   J    '^'F*/  »^ent  up  and  shook  handS"  wifh  M\l^  u 

and  seated  herself  oh  a  low  stciS  .r^i^^^  '    ^^^•"'^ 
the  mornluff's  advenfnLuM^*''^^^^®^^'^^  relate 

and  sSt  thS:t:rSa:''^^^"^  '^'  ^^^^^'^'^ 
De^''^^^^^^^  f?:^^  off  ia  tl^e^Jire^tiohof 


^ 


*\ 


\     i, 


/ 


jf    ^>. 


V- 


■•¥ 


-rt^. 


a»U.^' 


*»  Aif  '■ 


«'  ■,; 


•:••/ 


Jpfc 


1^6' 


GIPSY'S    DARING,       i* 


i' 


V 


Minnette— ttow  a  tall,  splendidly  developed,  womanly 
girl,  with  the  proud,. handsome  face  of  her  qhildhood — 
rose  and  welcomed  her  guest  with  cold  coqrtesy.  The 
old,  fery  light  lurked  still  in  hei; /bliick  eyes ;  but  the 
world  had  learned  her  to  subdue.it,vjihd  a  coldly-polite  rie- 
sei^e  had  taken^the  pl^ce  of  the  violent  outburst  of  pas- 
sion so  C|eifemon  ip  her  tempestuous  childhocid. 

^<Don)t  you  find  it  horribly  dull  here,  Minnette?" 
said  Gipiyi,  swallowing  a  rising  yawn.    ,  ,  , 

"N(X"teplied  Minnette;  "I  prefer  solitijide/  There 
are  few— 4'^^»  perbaps — who  sympathize  with  me,  and 
in  books  I  find  companions." 

"  Well,  I  prefer  less  silent  companions,  fc|r  my  pai-t," 


->' 


saidGipsy 


worm  of  myself  for  anybody.'.' 


b-ni^ht 


«  Then 


"  I  don't  believe  in  making  au 


old  hermit 


one  to  her  taste,"  was  the  cold  rejoinder, 
do  you  expect  your  father  homej  ?"  Inquired 


'A 


he'll  have  a  storm  to  herald  his  conjing,"  said 
Gipsy,  going  to  the  window  and  scanning  the  heavens 
with  a  pradticed  eye.  .. 

"A  stoim— impossible !"  said  Minnettef.    "There  is 
not  a  cloud  in  the  sky."       .  ,'  ^ 

"  Nevertheless,,  we  shall  have  a  storm,"  said  Gipsy. 
"J  read  the  sky  &s' truly  as  you  do  your  books  ;>  an^- 
if  he  attetrpts  to  edter  the  bay  to-night,^  I'm  inclined  ^ 
to  think  that  the  first  land  he  makes  will  be  the-  bot^ 

If  j  •  '  "»^ 

torn.  I  V      ■       '    •• 

Minnette  heard  thisint.elligence  with  the  utmost  cool- 
ness, saying  only :      *;  ,.  •         L  .  ^\  ^  '^ 
"  IrideeJ !    1  did  not  know  you  were  9ucl|^a'  judge'oa 
the  weathek    Well,  probably,  when  th^  see  the  storm  ' 
comingJ  thiy  will  put  into  some  place  until  it  is  over."     . 
V  If  the>  don't,  I  wouldn't  give  much  for  thorchan^ 


i 


?w-- 


,  i   -6 


t « id 


:i 


GIPSY'S 

oflifk"safdGipsy,as 
Minrette— all  may  be 

Minnette  looked  a 
Fret  I     She  had  little 
/piinu  :es  after  the  depart 
immersed  in  her  book  as 

•As  the  day  wore  oii'  and  eve 


Ijlwtdoii't  worry, 


'>     '] 


scornful 
it;   ai 
was  s( 
►erything  else, 
^g  approached,  Gipsy's 


prophecy  seemed  about  to  prove  true.     Dark,  leaden 
.^loudi  rolled  about  the  sky;  the  wind  no' longer  blc«v 
in  a  SI  eady  breeze,  but  howled  in  wild  gusts., The  bosom 
of  the  bay  was  tossing  and  moahing  wildly,  [leaving  aod 
plunging  as  though  struggling  madly  in  agony.     Gipsy 
seized  her  telescope,  and  running  up  to  one  of  the  high- 
est ro(.ms  in  the  Old  hall,  swept  an  anxious  glance  across 
the  trdubled  face  of  the  deep.     Far  out,  scarcely  distin- 
guishable from  the  white  caps  of  the  billows,  she  beheld 
the  sa  l  of  a  vessel  driving,  with  frightful  rapidity,  to- 
>  ward  t  li6  coast— driving  toward  its  own  doom  ;  for,  once 
\near  t|iose  foaming  breakers  covering  the  sunken  reefs 
iof  rocl  ^,110  human  being  could  save  6er.    Gipsy  stood 
gazing  Ijke  one  fascinated  ;  and  onward  still  the  doomed ' 
b^rk  4  'ove— like  a  lost  soul  rushing  to  its  own  destruc- 
tion.    "        ■  ■       '         .  .     ■.■■-..    ■■    ■'  ■:  •'  '   ■   .  ■.^::  /■■!■,.  ■■   ■•    >H  ■, 

Night  and  Idarkness  at  last  shut  out  the  lU-fated  ship 

from  h or  view.    Leaving  the  house,  she  hastily  made  her 

way  to  the  shore,  and  standing  on  a  high,  projecting 

peak,  walted.for  the  moon  to  rise;  to. view  the  sc^ne  ol- 

■  tempesi  and. death.  ^-r'^T^"-^'"^-^^'^rT^-~-7T  ^7  -  .:.X"°,-  *' 

It  lifted  its  wan,  spectral  face  at  last  froi^^ls&^d  » 
bank  of  dull,  black  clouds,  and  lit  up  with  It^jBiastly  ^ 
light  th(  t  heaving  sea  arid  driving  vessel.  Thei'tempest 
seemed  nomentarily  Increasing."  The  waves  boiled,  and 
seethed,  and  foamed,  and  lashed  themselves  in  fury 
against  J  he  beetling  rocks.  And,  holding  by  a  project- 
ing cliflfj  Glp§y  stood  surveying  the  scene.    You  might 


. 


V.  ^  i 


■x\ 


^.     ,..,._,      .                                             ■'■■., 

7  '     i-y wni»s'syw"»''fiBw::?!^aP5«r» 

S^IM^ZL" 

-•-■■-■ 

V                     ■■■';," 

'  '               '    •  '             ■   '  /      '''^SMHliraP^ASRiBHHI 

M^MHlfel^ 

--    .         ■'    ,■■'/■                        ■  ■  ..V- ■    :.■■''■'■■'.■■-';  .■'■■■'■''.■■■-■  '.  '       -,.;■■    .■  ■' 

f::;;!i;^:-  .;;rJ7,: ;.  Y'';^.xM^''- ''T''^r'^ 

"■  M  ■   .  'V  '  "  .              /  .   / 

■     ,    "  ;i^;*^    .■-.._                 ■"■/  j_"'-            ■■■■     ■           .      ■               -.'■'■''•■  '■'                  /-■'    .  ,".-  ■    . 

•;■■:'■'''           ■'■■■■   -■  V^  V  ■\':'-'    '-■     ■■  ;  '  ■  -•■  ■  -  ■''",'  •- 

/     .     :■ 

/^  ■     ■•■  ^.  .'•:                        ■.«  .  '■'^;- :;-'''■'  ■' 

■■'■■■             i        r                /-.'.'      ■:'.■•' '.r-z'-  1-.  ■■!  :                .'' 

■     '     '     .        '         "        .  ".  ■'  ■ 

•:',.  /■/v^--V';'^:.--'  ::^  ■''^'  :...v::^:-:-^5rv;':::;.  v;-^: 

' "'  ''■'"*    -       .^'.    v-'    " 

i 

.       •'^-   •    ■■■'/       •-            ■■;■■■;■    ^-    .-                 :v...  ■:::■■■-,  ■   .        ■■■_   ,::      ■■         .,      -■,      ■ 

■■';.;;■  \,;']  :'::',:r  ;;  ■■      -i^  '■  -,,  V^'"'-'-'   '       ':  \    ''    ■  :■■' 

'''-V'i  .-^^  ■'■'' ■'.■■'     '    ' '■" -I-/' '^  ■■      ''"'.'                ,■    ' 

.■  .' A.;:*: 

1 

-  ■■  '  ■  ■   •;■  ■    ■:■■:.:■:        ■■»■.•.-'-,,;,:■...;■    -'-.  .■■■■■:.::■■-,':;;. 

..■■■'';^v         '■.      '■■.•'.  .,'■  -     '■      '^''\     '..'.'■-■                             -^^ 

'' '  -^lh,i 

.■    ■  ■•  «>•;■■    ■■   ■/.'■■  ^'"/■-^■f  '■^^"^■■   -,■■/■;■■:  '   .^'.vv^  ■'■■•■•-;  ■■.  ■•;:  . 

-  '■.■■■              ■  ■      ..■■-"         .     '   ■         ■       '              '-^     ■■"  "" "  ~^ 

"TtJ||L. 

;  .-*r----i^.r,-^,-.,,,;^,;;--:;r   .;■:•:,:.,..,  ^^■::;  ■:.,.-.;    .      • 

:■■  ■    ■  -^  ■;■  ;  .  ^   ■  ■  ■    -'■  ■_:>  :^ — — ■ —    .       1        '      ■  ■'  ' 

.3BR' 

.   '.    '■■■■■•  .  ■■:.:  ^  •y  ■.:■  -     •■  .  -■-:  .  .^.'..'/  -.  i-:\-,;  ■■■•.■..  -,...;■■:■ 

.     ■  '  ^    ■     ■                         ■  ■-.       .      r                    .-■■'■■         ■       ;.  ■  '                                                 -  ■'    . 

•■'•■'^l^v.'/- -■■'-^"^^' ■'■  v^.k^--  ■'■    :    '.■'■'-A:''' 

>i,' ,      ■■  '■"■f-^  '^' 

J  _ 

■  /                         -'■.  ■             '  ■■■  -  ■.  -       ■■^■.        ,   -              ■  .         ■■■•;    "      .  ■■         :;   . 

'':■■' 'j-,-^<:\ -.'■'■■  ^  ";■■     7 /;^'^*:/".  •'!*'    '';'■•%  ■-■-»..'■■■ 

J9'' "     '•"■""■ 

.  '^■••»       ■  '  '.  -  :"v^'   •  ■'  '■  ■  ■'  '■■'"'  ■  ■   ■'  '  y''-'-:-    -/^^'-v  ■-'.•'■■-■  ■■■ 

''■^^*v>':;t;'  "/:•"■'■  ^' ■;■'■:'■/' :■>  i%.:^*<.i#-' "  "■  'j%.'-  ■ 

.;.  .;  ^^....  ^.,= 

■'■■  ■■  '■  '-(;..1W'''  ■:':^^;-'^""';:;-'V^;:--'":4':-^ 

■'",'■'"■■■                .*    -■■         --'^n^i  ■'         '^       '              ^^^^'^                      ''" 

f-f.  . 

^■,'yv.  ""'■■:      '.■,'■■,       -                f'-v-                                        "   ■       J,  ',  ^V;^'    ■    ■     «             i 

,■       ..  [  •: 

" .  ■■  V"-  ■■    ■}■-  ■■  '■       v'       ■'      '■                    "                  '  r;,       "  ""- 

-     '        ■■  7 

^■-'  -    -^'^X.            '             ■'  ^"  '.Z-'"^'  .y   "    •  :    .    :-.^  '■;■'  T 

-•■'■/  ■■ 

.'-■    ■       •                         ^-'-               '                                                                                          '■    ».■.-'■    J.                            '■■-.■        --■■;          '       :  ■■       ..'■   .      ■ 

/      -      ■ 

":.      ■■■■■    ■  ■        '"  -. 

. 

y\->:y':"y:i-    ■■.■■.■■•'4v ;,::■■  :•; ■■■,■'■■■ ;, 

:"•■■■■■  '■;  •  ii^  ■•/-■■    ''■■ 

.•      '■•.      •                   •■                      .:         ",            ■'■ 

■•"     ■■    '.       k   *  ■    A'!   ..  -i  'i-      -          .,•              ■-*■    .-:    ■            '  ;    'V'.-   :'■■/. 

:■   '  t;.-?  >        ■.       -V        ...      . 

.,;;  ;•  ^    .  \.:i^M 

. 

•'-         ■■   '■   -•      '•',      .-.-'--Jv     ■■      :,.-.   ,:■.•;      .,   •   ..•           -   --~v... 

..,..-.■         :    ...   .,\    ^;"',.   ;•                 - .  ■      -    .«■       .           .    .^,4;.., 

■-:■■  .  ,    /:,:.    •    r  -■:-  :':-"-^  ^fV.A  .  .-^  :- 

■■■,    '    .  .    ■  .:.   ''■'""...                                  .-       '          '      ■        '       •''' 

.  "      .  y."  •.'  • 

.  ■    :•  •■■-.■   ■■■  ■         ,-.       -'  '-  ■V^^■— -V  ■■  .    ■■-■;   .- 

'    ■  ■    ■■^-:-i^'-    -y^^                           ■■:':-■■•  ■ 

.'  ■              .'..  . 

■  /    \ 

,         .'                                    ■  -■  ■   \/^'  ■          ■■-    ■---.. 

/.  ■ ,-    ;  ■_      -    ■*■'.-           ■    s^,.    ■     ■  ■                                ;    '  ■               ■■» ■ 

ii-*    - 

"    ;■■■-•■•■•-.     ;,.'  ^..',v^   .--^s^'A    .  .-    ;#:■     ^-'v.ilA 

''•   ,       "■     ■■>;  ., 

t  ^*  - 

.         .                            •              ■.■.«■■                      .'               ■        ■  ■•     '■!           •:■               ■'     i:   ■■"■•    ■■ 

^-:--'^.:-;^:\-::--\^::':*¥..:-£^^^^ 

••'■;>  ■■     .",  '  ■;•,  ;■;  "'  -,  ■:'      .-..  .•-/■'  .■"...^     ..■ 

■■'■■;.  '    '.'.;■.■  ■''■-■-:-.ii' 

-»''■ 

:  •■       -■     .       "       ■     »  "'     ■        ■   '     ■  '■        •■'-/.  \.         •  L''".;.-.tf^    •*"    "        -iu^ '    '':  :-\-  '■   ■    . ■ 

.■■*,..■  ■   •  'v"  ■'■.'                           .    ;     .  ;■      '■.       ■■  ;^. 

'   ■■■"        .  "     '.        ■          ■      ■     " 

-^^ ■.'•■,  .•  ■_  -•  ■"^,a^,,     /#  „ 

^>      .                      '■      ■, 

T'''^''\'i-'S:^  /'  y 

"'.  ■ '  ^^^^B^b. 

•",■■'' 

■  ^ ..  ,^  ■                            '  _                    ■•      ■  . 

"  ''• ,  -  ■  ^^ ____^^^^^^Bii 

*                                   ' 

,  -v»   ■. 

■■■■■■■■■^^^^ 

.« 


4*- 


\\ 


IMAGE  EVAtUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT.3) 


A 


// 


5? 


'^S 


*> 
^ 


<< 


^*■»» 


t 


■ftJ*J. 


«  4 


•■         A 


■  1.8 


6" 


Fhotogri^Jiic 


CorpoiHtian 


^fsr- 


23  ¥VIST  MAM  ITRMT 

WI1STM,N.Y.  14SW 

(7l«)«7a-4S03 


^■^ 


'^ 


■^ 


i88 


GIFSY'S    DARING. 


s-^ 


hdive  thought  her  the  spirit  of  the  storm,  looking  on  the 
tempest  she  liad  herself  raised.  Her  black  hair  and  thin 
dress  streamed  in  the  wind  behind  her,  as  she  stood  lean- 
*'  ing  forward,  her  little,  wild,  dark  face  looking  strange 
■  and  weird,  with  its  blazing  eyes,  and  cheeks  burning- 
with  the  mad  excitement  of  the  scpne.  Down  below  her,^ 
on  the  shore,  a  crowd,  of  hardy  fishermen  were  gathered, 
watching  with  straining  eyes  the  gallant  craft  that  in  a 
few  moments  would  be  a  broken  rul^n.  On  the  deck  could 
be  plainly  seen  the  crew,  making  fnost  superhuman  ex- 
ertions to  save^themselves  from  the  terrible  fate  impend- 
ing over  them.  .  x 

All  in  vain  !  Ten  minutes'  more  and  they  would  be 
dashed  to  |>ieces.  ,  Gipsy  could  endure  the  maddening 
sight  no  longer.  Leaping  from  the  cliff;  she  sprang  down 
th(i  rof  ks,  like  a  moluntain  kid,  and  landed  among  the 
"  fistiermen,  who  werd  too  much  accustomed  to  see  her 
among  them  in  scenes  like  this  to  be  much  startled  by 
it  now.  7 

"Will  you  let  them  perish  before  your  eyes?"  she 
cried,  wildly.  "Are  you  men,  to  sUnd  here  idle  in  a 
time  like  this  ?  But  With  the  boats,  and  save  their  lives !' 

"Impossible,  Miss  Gipsy!"  answered  half  a  dozen 
voices.    "  No  boat  could  live  in  such  a  surf." 

"  Oh,  great  heaven  !  And  must  they  die  miserably 
before  your  very  eyes,  without  even  making  an  effort  to 
save  them  ?'V  she  exclaimed,  passionately,  wringing  her 
hands.  "  Oh,  that  I  were  a  man  !  Listen  !  Whoever 
will  m§ke  the  attempt  shall  receive  five  hundred. dollars 
rewarcl !"  a,  * 

Not  one  moved.    Life  could  not  be  sacrificed  for 

ft 

mcMiey.  „  *     ■ 

"There  she  goes!"  cried  a  voice.    ■'.:'■'■'-'"'■.  ■■-'"'^": 
Gipsy  turned  to  look.    A  wild,  prolonged  shriek  of 

mortal  agony'  rose  above  the  uproar  of  the  storm,  and 


,...\ 


an 

• 

•■  ■  i./ 

V* 

-** 


y 


A 


on  the 

nd  thin 

-  4 

1 

Dd  lean- 

strange 

>-.* 

turning" 
low  her,^ 

■It' 

citliered, 

lat  in  a 

;k  could 

I 

nan  ex- 

mpend- 

- 

ould  be 

idening 
Igdown 
ong  the 
see  her      V 

rtled  by       V 

!s?"  she 

•--.^^ 

ile  in  a 

•  lives !' 

\ 

Et  dozen 

\ 

iserably 
effort  to 

;ing  her 
Vhoever 

I. dollars 

\ 

.  189 

a  iigh.  U««!  S  LTs  Id^he"  -""'  P"'"""^  •>« 
dancipgover  the  f<«miogTav«  "  ''''  T   '"°°'"<'  ^^ 

Oh!  surely  her  guardian  aneel  steewrt  ,1,..  k 
Its  errand  of  mercv  thrn..„i,  .1.    u    "r*"™.  'hat  boat  on 

seal    The  saU  Zf ^5f '  ..  T'°^'k'"''"P«^'-'°»««» 
in  her  face:  bw  on  s^fl!  *?«'  her  as  it  dashed 

ment  on  .h.'.op  of  ,  snowy  wuTf  '^'""^'^  '"^  "  "°- 
down  down,  as'though  ne«"n°;^ror^:,'^\^  """ 

"Leap  into  the  boat '"  she  pTI^°     '",**• 
voi^,  that  n,ade  itsiif  h«rd.l4niSi  Ve  '^1  *"" 

'deattrd''trh:ir^."  "'1  «"*  tSn  of 
weight  netly  oy«t!7,h^r 'S  '2  l*^  "^"'""y  '»•    The. 

bodUhet^lf  :'riXt^;^;  "•"■''--<>'-«  -'^ 
Where  are  the  rest  ?"  she  exclaimed,  wildly 

a^oi^e!"^"™""'""^'""-    «ve„e^^:'^r Cried     ' 

ness  left  her,  and,  o^  co.^L"  2.1    °  "  '  '™"'*'°''»-  • 
fainted,where  she  lay  ^   ^  excttement,^8he 

anuTxt  :s:'o°nn*^r  sr"' T  •^'■■« '» "•« 

anxious  faces  around  her     Slf:  T      *  ""'"  °'  '™'''"«', 
.  "^-'•'^-^.'^c^^S^rL^^'t^nnd 


.--„._  i.. 


ipa 


GJJ'SyS    DARING, 


are  pre- 


,    » 


"Yes;  thanks  to  your  heroism,  our. lives 
served,"  saia  a  voice  beside  her. 

She  turned  hastily  round.  It /was  Doctor  Nicholas 
Wiseman.  Another  form  lay  stark  and  rigid  on  4he 
sand,  with  men  bending  over  him 

A-deadly  sickness  came  over  /Gipsy— she  knew  not 
wliyit  was.  She  turned  away,  mth  a 'vviolent  shudder, 
from  his  outstretched  hand,  and  pent  over  the  still  forni 
on  the  sand.  All  made ^  way  for  her  with  respectful 
deference;  and  she  knelt  beside/ him  and  looked  in  his 
face.  He  was  a  boy---a  mere  youth,  but  singularly  hand- 
some, with  a  loq^  of  deep  repose  on  his  almost  beai^ti 
ful  face.      :  f^'  ..,;  ^.'  -  ■" 

"  Is  he  dead  ?"  she  cried,,  inf  a  voice  of  piercing  an 
guish.  ' 

"  No  ;  only  stunned,"  said  /the  doctor,  comingover 
and  feeling  his  pulse.      - 

*'  Take  him  to  Sunsel  Hal4rthen,"  said  Gipsy,xturn 
ing  to  so"^^|MMbe  men  standiing  by.      p^ 

A  shutttpHls  procured,  jand  the  senseless  form  of 
the  lad  plac(6dllpon  it,  and, 
they  bore^him  in  the  directio 

Doctor  Wispman  went  t 
Gij^sy,  the  free  mountain 
feeling,  for  the  first  time  i 

Oh  !  better,  far  better  for  hei-  had  they  but  perished  in 
the  seething  waves ! 


ising  it  on  their  shoulders, 
of  the  old  mansion-house, 
ard  his  own  home.    And 
aid,  leaped  up  the  rocks,  \ 
her  life,  sick  and  giddy.     / 


^■.:^..:,A. 


W 


e  pre- 

cholas 

m  the       <> . 

w  not       r  ^ 
udder, 
form         .: 
ectful           I 

in  his  

hand-          ^ 

K-, 

leattti-          i 

i 
1 

Bi 

n 

ig  an-         ' 

-^ 

!«>?-i;i 

xturn- 

rm  of 
ilders, 
louse. 
And 
rocks, 
fiddy. 
led  in 


4 


^-P    i^/Zd?iP    ^(?y.^   ^^^^        -^^^ 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  JAILOR  boy's  DOOM.  ' 

's.ss!S:;sr;s:?js. . , 

window  curtains  fluttering  sofHv -     lu  "'  "^^"^  ^^<^« 

Gipsy  had  saved. '  h"?  h«vy 'daT't^i.^^'m''* 
waves  over  bis  pal^  intelligent  brow^W h^  1^  '*^  m"«^ 

met  his  ear.    Giosv  still  r*.fo;    1^  u  ^P^  *  8^*^  carol, 

as  she  walked?  Sd  hen's  'l1J::;°t.'f'°'^'"«'"^ 
-«nd  she  stood,  like  some  brlgl^vS  h-/  T  °'^"«'' 
-cheeks  glovri«ff,  eves  snVrtMl  "l  ?  °™  ■"■"'  "'"> 
bright  and  r^L^tTJr^^^'  *"<">«•.  <=0"Wenance 
pufple  riding  habi  4«L  :;  T^^'L"^ '  "«'  <'«*^ 

->«ht.  sii^  rj:Z^T:^^^;;^^T 


'  *v 


^ 


■'  ly- 


*i 


■?c 


^  • 


'  I 


19a  TSE    SAJtLOR    BOY* S   DOOM,  ' 

'    "  J#-.'^  '"'■■ ,  '"^"  *  ■  ■ 

hat,  .with  its  long,  sweeping,  sable  pHimt,  giving  her  the 
air  6f  a  young  mountain  queen,«€rowned  with  vitality, 
and  sceptered  with  life  and  beauty. 

"Oh,  I  have  had  sudi  a  charming  canter  over  the  hills  ' 
this  morning,"  sher^rie¥,  with  her  wild,  breezy  laugh.  .' 
"  How  I  wished  you  had  been  imi  enough  to  accompany 
me.     Mignonne  fairly  flfewjeaping  over  yawning  chasms 
and  rocks  as  though  he  felt  not  the  ground  beneath  hifn. 
But  I  am  forgetting— how ^'0  you  feel  this  morning?"      * 
_       «  Much  better,  sweet  lady.     Who  could  be  long  ilT^ 
with  s^th  a  nurse  ?"  he  replied,  while  his  fine  eyes  lit  up 
with  admiration  and igratitude.  ^ 

Gipsy,  be  it-^nolyni  had  installed  herself  as  the  niifse 
of  the  young  saildr-\and,  by  her  jleepless  care  and 
tender  nursing,  had,  klWiost  restored  hi  in  from  death*  to 
life.  And  when  he  becdme  conyalescint,  she  would  sit 
•  by  his  bedside  for  hoUrs,  reading,  tailing,  and  singing 
for  him,  until  grktitude  on  hiijs  part  rijened  into  fervent 
love ;  while  she  only  looked  upou  him  as  she  Would  on 
any  other  stranger— taking  an  interest  in  him  bnly  on 
account  of  his  youth  and  friebdlincss,  and  because  she 
had  saved  his  life.  I 

«  Well,  I'm  glad  to  hear  it,  Vm  sure !  I  want  you  to 
hurry  and  get  well,  so  you  cau  ride  out»  with  me.  Are 
yoi^  a  good  horseman  ?"  ( 

"Yes,  I  think  sp^  he  said,  trailing.  \ 

!;  Because,  if  yiu're  not,  yolu  mustn't  attempt  to  tW 
our  hills.  It  takes.aii  exper^ rider,  lean  tell  you;  to 
gallop  over  them  without  b^«a^iiJg  bis/ neck."  \ 

"Yet^<w  venture,  fairest  lady;''    «^         /  '  \ 

"Mef    Ha,  ha!    Why,  I've  been  oh  h(/rseback  ever, 
since  I  was  two  years  old.     My^bMis  my  other  self.    I 
could  as  soon  think  of  living  without  laughing  as  with3 
out  Mignonne." 


\. 


-J* — I- 


-  JH 


->,    '» 


IW 


,)'*  .. 


.«, 


)' 


■   Ct 
T 


\       3f  1. 


■--v.; 


„  y 


y 


^^^  SAILOR.  ^dy*s  I>C^M, 


thelrt^id:::^.^^'^'  ^°"  "^"  ^^1^  be  .^  teache.  in 
»t»  you   know     pArWiiw  "'s  rae-.     1  am  t  used  to 

Sc  Mark's  would  be  d^d  of  ih^hi      ^J?"*'^''"''''  '" 
me."  ,  °  °'  '"*  Wues  if  H  weren't  for 

here  she  We.    SpSfoT^^ISl^'X^r  •°'''''' 
you  know."  "*cooay,  and  hell  appear, 

WU  "S^/^'^^^^-'-' and  pa,paa«„g 

;-«  fat "  With  ye:?s ;  aS  h^Z  n^o^s^u^t'  ^  L't    ' 
toil  her  wav  un  fh#.  ir^n»  ..  •        "«  easy  casK  tor  her  to 
«  Oh  r^^  ^  ^  staircase  of  Sunset  Hall 


.%V' 


*, 


'*-^^h^^'^l- 


:■  t\ 


w 


■V; 


.ifc. 


K'^ 


t/-^ 


s-"-. 


$m::'-?-l!^,.S4^d^   SOY'S   DOOM, 


■V  >. 


■  --jk  ■: 


•1  -,-7; 


'■**■ 


-I'Archie!  wjioth(^  deuce  is  he?"  thought  the^im^ 
mMshjpmaaijyith  a  jealousvtwinge.  xV    -^  V^* 

««1^*w  ''®^"*  ^^^  bmught  Miss  Gower  pleasant 
hel^H  ^^'''— ^\''*'  byway  of  drawring  her  out,  after  h; 
he  had  answered  her  inquiries  about  his  health. 

Why,  yes,  it's  natural  she  should  be  glad  to  ibeet 
her  old  playorate."  replied  the  u n suspect in|  old  lady 
.;;ibrat^^  Then  she  1.S  known  him 

/  "Ves ;  theyt^ere  children  together,  gretv  up  together 
and^^a^fondof oneancSher.  ifhasa^ffi 
^t;^."'^'i^^^  andl  dare  s^  they 

«nJ^**  y^"'^^?''^^''^^"^^  '°^'/»»«  window  as  she 
spoke  or  good  Mrs.  Gower  might  haVe  been  startled  by 

«  Hf^^l""-    ^'^"^  ^'''"*^ "°  '"^^^  questions,  the  worthy 
old  lady  began  to  thmk  he  might  wish  to  be  left  to  himself ; 

room  °°'  catch  coldr^  quitted  tht 

.J^antiWe,  Archie  and  Gipsy  we,^  holding  a  very  ani- 
^»«ed  conversatMH^in  the  parlor  few.  ArchS^wM 
relating  how  he  had  uhdertaken/a  very  imBortant  Js? 
ih«woJ.ld  call  him  fromjjome^r  fouJ^^Cmb,^ 
and  that,  when  it  was  ove^^e  would  be  rich  enough  to 
set  up  an  establishment  for  himself,  and  return  to  St. 
Mark's  to  claim  his  Httle  bride.  ^  ■ 

hn-^""*  fT''  ^'P*^'"  ^"^  concluded,  "Vhat  mischirf 
Who  h4^    """    perpetrating  since  I   saw   you   fast 
W^  Jb^ve  you   locJ«.d  up,^r  ^  or  ran  iway  with 

Jn  i-eply,  Gipsy  related  the  story  of  the  wreck,  and 
went  into  ecstasies  on  the  beauty  of  Mr.  Harry  Danvers, 
M.  S.  N.    Archie  listened  with  a  savage  frown,  that 


i: 


*f^=- 


'».^ 


M- 


X 


"holy  auntenance  r 7  '  beautiful,  melan- 

^     "fo;'.'!!'"  *"'' rHho'y  countenance  !••  .'^- 

,cros,dlsag.eeab,elth;5i:o^.L;"^ 

«"« pom';  yoirit,  Ve;*L'^"''-'H  "^  "■;'  ■«-*•"« 

a  withering  snefr  Ausi  1«       **    ^"'  *''^'  ^'""^  with 

tifui.  n.eIancho?;i„Lt.inc?'VnH'''  "k""  ?/ "« '  "eau- 

,    beauty  (or  liini."  /  ^  '""'  "^y^e  I'll  spoil  itt 

"  He  s  got  »r/i  a  sIm,  «„  ,t"°!P""«*  Anrhie. 

.-hi"  continued  rh:rt.Sgf:r^'-^  ""'"''""»• 

'sweetmouths,'.vfd  •wWe.t^i''.   ~"«"»»«».'  «nd 

"Why,  I  shouldn't  care"  • 

"Vou  wouldn't?    Oh,  Jupiter  61^, -Only  h,„  / 


/:?'•* 


*'^^ 


if*. 


■■^     -v-I 


^ 


f  *-^-' 


h  -/ 


L-t     ' 


»     It,    - 


'I  ^ .  * 


*.x-/ 


)»' 


X9<  r^^  S4fL0It    BQrS  DOOJt. 

'  ''■.''  .  /  ' .      .    ..•  ■ 

/-«»>/"  exclaimed  Archie,  striding  up  i»nd  down  in  a  tow- 
ering passion.     "That  shows  all  yoii,  care  about  iw^/ 
,  Ooii^gand  falling  in  love  with  the  first  old  tarry  tolior 
>o6  meet .»    I  won»t  endure  it !    I'll  blow  my  brains  out 

-rii " 

"  Well,  .don't  do  it  .in  the  house,  then.    Pistols  mak« 
noise,  and  mightdisturb  Mr.  Danvers." 
Archie  fell  int<f  «  ch^ir  with  a  deep  groan. 
"  there,  <|on't  look  so  dismal.    I  declare,  you  give  me 
'fc  fit  of  the  blues  every  time  you  come  to  see  me.    Why ' 
can't  you  be  pleasant,  and  laugh  ?" 

"  Laugh  !"  exclaimed  poor  Archie.  *' 

"Yes,  laugh!  I'm  sure  you  used  to  be  forever  grin- 
iiing.  fPoor,  dear  Mr  Danvers  is  sick,  yet  he  laughs." 
.  "  Mr.  Danvers  again  !"  shouted  Archie,  springing  to  ' 
his  feet.  "  Mayjucifer  twist  Mr.  Danvers'-  neck  for 
hiinl  I  won't  stay  another  minute  in  the  house.  I'll 
clear  out,  and  never  see  you  mor^.  I'll  never  enter  your 
pUBsence  agaiiirybu  heartless  girl  r  i  '^ 

"Well,  won't  you  take  a  cup  of  coflfee  before  you 
go  ?"  said  Gipsy,  with  her  sweetest  smile. 

"Hallo,  Jupiter!  Jupiter,  I  say,  bring  round  my 
horse.  Arid  now,  most  faithless  of  women,  I  leave  you 
forever.  Life  is  now  a  blank  to  me;. and,  ere  yonder 
sun  sets,  I  shall  be  in  eternity.''    <    ;a^;  , 

"Is  it  possible?  Won't  you  write  yhen  you  get 
there,  and  let  me  know  if  it's  a  good  plafce  for  lawyers 
to  settle  in?"  o         r  t-  / 

Oh!  such  a  groan  as  followed  this!  Casting  a 
tragical  look  of  despair  at  Gipsy,  who  sat  smiling  serene- 
ly,  Archie  rushe^  from  the  house.  \  {      ,     - 

Ten  minutes  later  he  was  back  again.  Gipsy  had 
stretched  herself  on  a  sofa,  and  was  apparently  i  fast 
asleep.  ^ 


v\.- 


'K.>J 


v    / 


V 


'/>» 


-v-i 


'-% 


.  ■,  ~.\\^.. 


L'. 


>H 

■  %'■> 

-*>.■• ' 

■ 

^  ^ 

^^■'■A 

*  \S^.- 


-;f^»^V'Y>/        > 

-'■ ■ 

■^ 

i  >^ 

\ 

■   '   :.          ; 

*  \  t  • 

M    »              «-J> 

•     r 

\'        -   ,         ■*   > 

a  tow-      *<"^ 
wtmet     y^ 

, 

toiior'  : 

1 

Ds  out 

L  '* 

make     / 


ve  me 
Why 


•■-^ 


■grin- 
hs." 

Ing  to  .* 
k  for 

I'll 
your 

5  you 

I  my 
Byoti 
>nder 

I  get 
iryers 

tig  a 
rene- 

had 
fa«t    ' 


iSMS^  '"  '*t^v?i^irr'" 


't,. 


A-,^. 


?»:^  SAILOR  "^Bo^^spppji;^ 


•'*^, 


"w:i!!::;!'§!;,^r'*  -claimed^iichie.  shaking  her; 

eirel^-Uai'd^^"'"  said^Gipsy,  drowsily  opening  her 
jyes.       What  did  you  wake  rae  up  /or  ?    I  thoutrhf^ZV 
-     »«d  carted  on  your  journey  t6  eternity/'    ' '*^°"«*>Vy°« 
"Gipsy,  shall!  go?" 

^•Gipsy^i.,,  „^<,  y„„  ,„^,  p.e  or  Mr.  Danver. 

*' I  don't  love  either  of  vou th^r^  »».»  i     a    j  r     ,. 

you  what,  Archie  Rivers,  if  you  don^'  2^1    lV  **" 
ffet  aslW  TMi  „-  .    ^      ^°  '  8^°  o^  and  let  me 

w/.if^'^      ^''^*'  'P^*'' '°  y°"  again.    Mind  that  I" 
theS'wh?"^''  Archie  obeyed,\nd  walked  out  of 
nanr^^M  ^   ^^"  ^'J^*^'*^  expression  of  counte' 

InT^v       .°  '°u"^'  ^''^^  ^^  S°"«  'J^*"  Gipsy  sprC  UD 

aM  clapping  her  hands,  danced  round  the  3     ?^' 

-^eyes  sparkling  with  delight.  :.  ^  H^O-her 

Ara.2*!'   iftr''  ^"'"«he  exclaimed.  ^'PooL  dear 
Arcftie  l—if  I  haven't  madeiiim  a  victim  ^m-  i 

eyW  monster..'  Mr.  DaivenTlodlS  AtifrJflT""  ^ 
good-datured  Archie  wasn't  wowh  all  .Wm  n  *""' 
that  .,er  adorned  th.  <lu:ZZZ'l%'^  ^^^^Tmn 
^Z^'ZftT"''^  'distinguished  Mr^Rivers-'S 
«c»u  or  nis  neels  I  K  I  aw  to  settle  down  into  a  hi. wii^^ 
lT„  h'»  ''"'"r"^  d»y.  I'"  haveas^uch  frolt  t 
■'wmh  S^t-^to    ^°'  ^r"  A"=fi'«i  look  out  fothi 

And  never  did  any  one  iteep  her  wo.xl\ot»  faithfuU, 


'^  ■>■ 


1:, 


AT 


/      \   iff* 


B'  ^. 


K> 


\-K' 


7., 


■f"  - 


^^ik^l:''^'^''^^'  thai  Archie  wa^  to 
Bcay  ^ith  them  she  flirted  unmercifully  with  the  h«nH  < 

.ome^a,ng  midshipman,  .vho  was  now  Xo>We^^^^^^ 
quite^uncoqacious  of  all  the  hopes  she  was  rousiL^« 
his  bosom.  P6or  Giosv  I  littU  rfin  ?^**®^'°"«»n«  »n 
while  *!hAr«^-Ku-.y  "®  °*^  she  dream  that. 
Tnch^n.-  ^^  ^'^  side,and  bestowed  upon  him  her 

enchanting  smiles,  and  woro^  the  colors^he  iTke? -nl     " 

Archie  Rivers  ms  jealous.  .  Many  were  thi.  f^r,>«;A      ' ' 
.       But  matters  were  now  drawing  to  a  crisis      Th. 
•  In  j^ '".*'"■  J""""'*""  "'e"*'  «»"  three  weie  mtK^red       ' 


S~ 


/^ 


.■» 


8r 


^-iik. 


i 


»99 


*      *    * 


.*  * 


^  ■/■  ^^  SAILOR  Boy*sf  :J^0ir, 

llnJ' -iJlfV^"  ■"  •»«««».•' ""e  replied,  hl^^m*  Lniirt. 
Archie  »ibrow  grew  d»rk.    He  hated  th.i  «.u»,>.  ». 

ri?-.L'  *^^.''?-  brown  eyes  twinkled  wiilr  mischL  !^ 
•he  began,  %Ji.cr^dcar,  sweet  voice :  °»»9<^Wo^  w^ 

^ 1^  ^     ■:.•  \.  V-  .■        -  ■  i^  '  ' .    ^z    \  \i   '  "-  '  t-;  .•• 


',  4    ■*!-' 


"  '  0'e&bi^h'f"™^^f--'  **'*'«»•  love,  of  thee : 
YtlUi     J'*°*  ''*^*'*«  'ove,  floating  with  Am  ? 

ronaiy  tby  white  arms  around  me  were  m^mA  . 

PnnHf  f^S?"*.  ^o'*.  dwelled  o'erThlS.?^' 
Fondly  thyblus 'eyes  beamed,  lovl.  on  ^- 


'\- 


,  She  hesitated  a  moment,  and  looked  uoiii  wi  * 
..  «  though  really  intending  th^wordSfor  him     He^Z 

"^o^}?i!:'i;Sd:r':!w^r^-''^^^^ 

»o«.co„quered  herl,e.ter  nature,  and  shr^l:?^ 

■'  -»^^  • 

And  a.  our  frail  bark  drove  through  the  Ui. 

««t  uau  ana  nraned,  from  the  house ;  and  Danvem    f/.r 
W^^«JP«V^h«  »tfdenl,  .n  h.,  .«.^  .„a  p.«io»«dy  ' 

■      *.*!*■    *  ,  -  ,  '  -^ 


'.^i 


■   ■  'y  I 


^'^^'^ 


vT' 


^%i&% 


.,    ^^ 


— : n!ffl 


>r 


"^5 


/it* 


If  _<• 


b'^?- 


^ 


i--"! 


¥' 


"\ 


ii 


I  ' 


aoo  TiSTi?    SAILOR    BOY'S   DOOM. 

„ .  :■.  ■  ,,.-..  V  ;-:  ■■■  ^•v.-:-'    . :-  <'■-:  ^:y':-  ^' 

'^Oh,  Gipsy !  my  love  !  my  Iffe,  my  beautiful  moua. 
**»*»  sprite  !— can  you,  will  you  love  me  ?"  \  y 

With  a  wild,  sharp  cry  of  terror  abd  anger,  she  broke 
from  his  arms,  and  sprang  back,  with  flashing  eyes 

''Back,  sir,  back  I—I  dommand  yoji  1  How  dare  you 
attempt  such  a  liberty  withltoe?*'  ^  «. 
^  How  beautiful  she  looked  in  her  wrath,  with  her 
Mazing  eyes,  and  crimson  cheeks,  and  straight  little 
form  drawn  up  to  its  full  height,  in  surprise  and  indiir- 
nation.  ^  \ 

^  He  stood  gazing  at  her   for  a   moment-amazed, 
-thunder-struck  at  the  change.    Then,  seeing  only  her 
enchanting  beauty,  he  took  a  step  forward,  threw  him- 
self at  her  feet,  and  broke  forth  passionately  : 

"Gipsy,  I  love  you— I  worship  you.    Have  you  been 
mocking  me  all  this  time  ?— or  do  you  love  me,  too  ?" 

"  Rise,  sir  I    I  have  neither  been  mocking  you.  nor  da 
riove  you  I    Rise !  rise  1    Kneel  not  to  me !" 

/*And  I  have  been  deceived?  Oh.  falsest  of  false 
ones !  why  did  you  Jearn  me  to  love  you  ?" 
tL  "^^'  ^^"^®''5'  *^°"''  call  me  names.  As  to  the  learn- 
!l?  r.V^  '^^®  "^^  ^  °^''®''  a"empt^  such  a  thing  in  my 
life  I  I  d  scorn  to  do  it,"  she  said,  ind%nantly  ;  but  even 
whi^she  spoke,  the  blood  rushed  in  a  fiery  torrent  to. 
her  !tee,.and  then  back  to  her  heart,  for  she  thought  of 
all  the  encouragement  her  merciless  flirtation  must  have 
given  him.  . 

"  yo"  <*»^»  G^ipsy,  you  know  you  dtd/"  he  vehemently 
exclaimed.  "  5:very  encouragement  that  could  be  given 
to  a  lover,  you  gave  to  me  ;  and  I— fool  that  I  was— I 
believed  you,  never  dreaming  that  I  should  find  a  flinty, 
hardened  flirt  in  one  whom  I  took  to  be  a  pure-hearted 
mountain  maiden." 

Had  Gipsy  felt  Jierself  innocent  Qf  the  charge,  how 
iqdignantly  she  would  hay^  drnJert  \t     But  the  coa. 


lb 


0. 


.< 


*n 


4 


"-?* 


,.^; 


•V 


■* 


'^v^^'"-"** 


"'  '       f'- 


1 


"oke 


:>  -  '> 


'  - :  -^f  /  ^^^w^fW^^ 


«        4 


rJSTff    SAILOJt   JBOY'S   JDOOJ/.  a6| 

sciousness  of  guilt  sent  the  crimson  once  mo^toher 
browr,  as  she  replied  in  a  low,  hurried  tone  : 

**Mr.  Danvers,  I  have  done  wrong!'  Forgive  me! 
As  heaven  is  my  witness,  I  dreamed  not  that  you  cared 
forme.  It  was  my  mad,  wild  love  of  mischief  brought 
all  this  about.  Mr.  Danvers,  it  is  as  yet  a  secret,  but  Mr. 
Rivers  is  my  betrothed  husband.  Some  ^end  f>rompted 
me  to  make  him  jealous,  and  to  accomplish  that  end  I—I 
>lush  to  say  it— flirted  with  you  ;  alas,  never  dreaming 
you  thought  anything  oV  it.  And  now  that  I  have  ac- 
knowledged my  fault,  will  you  forgive  me,  and— be  my" 
friend  ?"  ,  •  ■ 

She  extended  her  hand.  He  smiled  bitteriy,  ftnd 
passed  her  without  touching  it,  Then  leaving  the  house^ 
he  mounted  his  horse  4nd  ^lloped  furiously  away. 
Prophetic,  indeed,  were  tjiie4r6rds  with  which  hei'  song 
had  ended— words  that  came  pealing  through  the  dim 
aisles  of  the  forest  after  him,  as  he  plunged  frantically 
along : 

"2^»  ^**rt,  awaken  !--wrecked  on  lone  shore,  '     ^ 

Thou  art  forsaken !— dream,  heart,  no  more  I* 

■-■-'*■' 

Gipsy  stood  still  in  the  porch,  cold  and  pale,  await- 
ing his  return.    But  though  she  waited  until  the  stars 
grew  dim  in  the  sky,  he  came  not.     Morning  dawned, 
and  found  her  pale  writh  undefined  fear,  but  still  he  wa»^ 
absent.     .      ■     , ;  '■"  -'%,:':-     ^ •■■":.■■■  ■/ ',, 

After  breakfast,  Archie  came  over,  still  angry  and. 
sullen,  after  the  previous  night's  scene,  to  find  Gipsy 
quieter  and  more  gentle  than  he  had  ever  seen  her  before 
in  her  life. 

**  I  wish  he  would  come  I    I  wish  he  would  come  V* 
cried  her  wild,  excited  heart,  a^  she  paced  up  and  down,    • 
"°tit  h«5  yes  grew: bright  and  JM^r^cheelA  grew  burniniy?, 
hoi,  with  feverisb  watcbing  and  vague  feaiv~~  ™  «  - 


< 


^i 


^ 


Nl 


S4 


■(tUk 


I.'  ' 


r 


&*,      \ 


ft     I  t 

w  - 


f 


20« 


r^jr  ';$4/£0M  j^qvi^s  doom. 


^  \ 


.u    uM?"   M?^  *"  ^""^  ®*^^'**^  ^»P*y-    A  canter  ovW 
the  hills  will  do  you  good,"  safd  Archie,  anxiously. 

She  eagerly  assented,  and  leaping  on  Mignonne's 
back,  dashed  away  at  a  tremendous  pace,  yet  could  not 
go  half  quick  enough  to  satisfy  her  restless  longing  to 
fl/i  fly,  she  knew  not  where. 

."Where  are  you  going,  Gipsy  ?"  cried  Archie,  wha 
found  some  difficuUy  to  keep  up  with  the  break-neck 
pace  at  which  she  rode. 

^    "  To  the  Black  Gorge,"  was  her  reply,  as  she  thuii- 
tiered  over  the  cliff. 

^  "Wfey,  Gipsy  !  what  possesses  you  to  go  to  th^t  Wild 
place?"  said  Archie,  in  surprise.     , 

"  I  don't  know— I  feel  as  if  I  nnist  go  there !  Don't 
Ulk  to  me,  Archie  !    I  believe  I'd  crazy  this  morning  !" 

She  flew  on  stvifter  than  ever,  until  they  reached  th© 
■pot— «  huge,  black,  yawning  gulf  among  the  hills.  She 
rode  so  close  to  the  fearful  brink  that  Archie's  heart 
stood  still  in  horror,      x  '  ^• 

"  Are  you  mad,  Gipsy  ?"  he  cried,  seizfng  her  bridle- 
rcin  and  forcing  her  back.  "  One  false  step,  and  your 
brains  would,  be  dashed  out  against  the  rocks." 

But,  fixing  her'eyes  on  the  dark  i;hasm,  she  answered 
bim  only  by  a  wild,  prolonged  shriek,  so  full  of  piercing 
•nguish  that  his  blood  ^eemed  curdling  in  his  vein^ 
while,  with  bloodless  face  and  quivering  finder  she 
pointed  to  the  gulf,  . 

He  leaped  from  his  horse  and  approached  th«  dizzy 

edge.    And  there  a  sight  met  his  eyes  that  fro^e  his  heart 
with  horror.  o 

^    "  Qreat  God  !"  he  cried,  springing  back,  with  a  face  ' 
deadly  white.    «  A  horse  and  rider  lie  dead  and  mangled 
below!" 

A  deadly  faintness  came  over  Gipsy;  the  g(ound ' 
■eemed  reeling  around  her,  and  counqcws  star^Kngcg 

.■i.yi....i ■   I    II ■ii.i.i.ii    I     ,|i.     ■     II      11.1      III    ■    III ■ ■! I.I     I    II      mi .1     11  W.II.I    ■  nil  II I ■'    nil     I      I  J 


^/ 


>^.    r 


^^> 


1     ^i^M, 


\^ 


r^^   SAJLOM    BOY'S  DOOM,  ^% 

before  her  e}'es.  For  a  moment  she  was  on  the  verge  of 
swoonmg/then  by  a  powerful  effort  the  tide  of  life  roUecf 
tack,  and  £  she  leaped  from  her  horse  and  stood  by  his 
side.    ■     \   V-  ^ 

**  It  is  impossible  to  i;each  the  bottom,"  cried^Archifc 
inavoiceilow  with  horror.  "A  cat  eould  hardly  clam, 
ber  down  jthose  perpendicular  sides,"      ^^ 

"I  canldo  it,  Archie;  I  often  went  up  and  down  there 
when  a  child,"  exclaimed  Gipsy ;  and  ere  Archie  could 
restrain  hdr,  the  fearless  girl  hadcaiight  hold  of  a  stunted 

spruce  tre^  and  swung  herself  over  the  edge  of  the  aiH 
palling  go%e.        .  '     ■ 

Archie  Rivers^scarcely  breathed  ;  he  felt  as  though  he 
scarcely  lived  while  she  rapidly  descended  by  Catching ' 
the  matted  shrubs  growing  along -its  sides.  She  wai 
down  at  last,  and  bending  over  the  mangled  form  below. 
_"GipsyI  Gipsy!  do  you  reojgnize  himr  cried 
Archie.    ..  '  -  \-v  •::';'  r'^-' 

She  looked  up,  and  he  saw  a  face  from  which  every 
traceof  life  seemed  to  have  fled. 

«  Yes,"  she  replied*  hoarsely.  "T?  is  Pamters/  Ride^^ 
— ndefor  your  life  to  Sunset  Hall,  and  bring  men  and 
ropes  to  take,  hiln  up  1"  .  ^ 

In  an  instant  he  was  in  the  saddle,  and  off.  In  less 
than  an  hour  he  returned,  with  half  the  population  in 
the  village  after  him,  \khom  the  news  of  the  catastroohe 
had  brought  together.  ^ 

Ropes  were  lowered  to  Gipsy,  who  still  remained 
where  Archie  had  left  her,  and  the  lifeless  form  of  the 
young  man  drawn  up.    Gipsy,  refusingall  aid, clambered 
up  the  side,  and  the  mournful  cavalcade  set  out  for  Sun*  ^ 
set  HalL 

^  He  was  quite  dead.  It  was  evident  he  had  fallen,  ia 
th»  darkness,  into  the  gorge,  and  been  instantly  kiUted. 
Hi!  fair  hAlr  hung,  cloitSd  wUh  blood,  round  hit  for«^ 


s 


r-v:   ■ 


h  • 


K  *> 


J  tiff 


t 


t  • 


ao4    TffE    SPJBEJi     WEAVES    HIS    WEB.    \ 

headr:aq(ra  fearful  gfash  in  the  temple  showed  <he 
wound  wh^c^  his  young  life  had  flowed  awa^  And 
Gipsy,  feeling  as  tliaiigh  she  were  his murderes^  sat  by 
his  side,  and,  gazing  on  the^til^  cold  fbrra,  shed  The  first 
«S:;r;"''H  '"'  everfallen^ron,  her  .ye.    By  so^l 

rfl?H  f  H     7;?^"*^^'  ^'  ^^'  ^"  'h*'  setf^me  spot  the . 
dead  body  of  Barry  Oranmore  had  been  fdund.    ^ 

h..   u         !P^l'    '^*»««"n^ine  was  fast  fading  out  of 

arouid  her     She  wept  now  for  anolher-knowing  not 
tow  soon  she  was  to  weep  for  herself. 


- '    I 


'  .i^ 


■  ■i   - !-._ 


"^— -#t-i. 


a.        ^ 


n„  V 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

.THE  SPIDER   WEAVES' HIS  WEB. 

"   /    '    "^fearful  sign  stands  in  thy  house  of  life— 

\1  i?"  «"«™y— a  fiend  lurks  close  behind 

*^  The  radiance  of  thy  planet.    Oh,  be  warned  1" 

^    "-^n^^no^a  darker  lioura$cend8."-^MA»iabil. 

WEEK  after  the  event  recorded  inthe  last 
chapter  Archie  went  back  to  the  city.  Be- 
fore he  went,  he  had  obtained  a  promise 
from  Gipsy— who  had  grown  strangely  still 
^Sdgeutle  since  the  death  of  Danver»-to 
become  his  wif^limnedtateljLupon  his  return  ;  but,  with 
her  usual  eccentricity,  she  refuwai^aHowiOm  to  make 
their  engagement  public.  ^^~^~^^^~_.^ 

"Time  enough  by  and  by,"  was  still  her  answer ;  and 
Archie  was  forced  to  be  content. 

ffiPV  w«^>  for  a  while,  lad  aod  quiet,  but  buth  wew 


^^~*-«^ 


»jfl* 


4  t- 


the 

% 
irst 

the. 

r^ 

ast 
not 


a.;.- 


"qe:Ms;.J 


;;*?:- 


■./m: 


«  ( 


■V 


/=» 


T^M    SPIDMR    WEAVES   HIS    WEB. 


5t 

ff 

'■                         If 

e                1 

1                "-'M 

I       ''      'f  -'- 

*                  1 

H"^;'"^^ 

'.  -'  •  1 

» 

f 

1          .-         --aggia* 

p 
■^  *' 

ao5 

foreign  to  her  character ;  and,  with  the  natural  buoy- 
^2^^  of  youth,  she  shook  off  her  gloom,  and  soon  once 
more  her  merry  laugh  made  music  through  the  old  house, 
t>9ctor  Nicholas  Wiseman  ^ometimes  made  his  appear- 
ance  at  Sunset  Hall  of  late,     lizzie  was  sUffering^m 

Ma^^''  *"'^,^!  ^"^  was|die  onlyplyrsicUq  in  §t. 
:    «»ark  s,  he  was  called  in.       /  _^ 

sn„^!  ^n  ^^  °"^  ^^^  *°  '^®  A*'^"''  *'  luncheon  with  the 
squire,  Gipsy  came  trippin/along  with  her  usual  elastic 

«?;r^  K  "''^^"^  **^'  '^^^^^"antly  to  the  gentlemen, 
ran  up  to  her  own  room.  The  squire's  eyes  followed  her 
with  a  look  of  fond  pride.  T  . 

vixl?r  h^°"i,T''  '^.^  ^"^'^  *"°'^«''  ^harming  little 
vixen  ?   he  asked,  turning  to  the  doctor.  / 

l«^^ "  *^^^  ^u*""^!' '®  certainly  an  extrat^rdinaiy  young 
lady  said  the  doctor,  dryiy.  "I  have /often  lien  sur! 
pnsed,  Squire  Erliston,  that  you  should  ^reat  your  house- 
Keeper  s  niece  as  one  of  your  own  family." 

SQui.^*!^",^  ™y  housekeeper'^  niece,'^  blurted  out  tte 
squire;  "sbe^was "■       ■ ,  ^>^     "^  %  ,      T; 

He  paused,  suddenly  recoilectbg  that  the  discovchr 
of  Gipsy  was  a  secret.   ^  *,  . 

"She  was  what?"  said  the  doctor,  fixing  Ms  kc*n 
eyes  on  the  old  man's  f^ce. 

"  Well  hang  it,  Wijjeman,  I  suppose  it  makes  no  dif- 
ference whether  I  tell  [you  or  ffbt  Gipsy  is  not  Mrs; 
Gower's  niece  :  she  is  ^  fou'ndkng." 

"YeV  said  the  doctor,  priking  up  his  ears. 
Yes,  last  Christmas  Eve,  just  seventeen. years  airo. 

Mrs  Gower,  returning  from  A -found  Gipsy  iZg 

on  the  beach,  near  the  ^outh  end  of  thp  city  "    *"  '  ^    * 

.Long  habit  had  given  Dr.  Wiseman  full  control  over 

his^^otions,  but  now  the  blood  rushed  in  a  purple  tide 

^gMs^ow  face, as  he  leaped  from  his  chair  and  fairly 


'^^^l 


■i.     A-5; 


m 

-  t\ 


%\ 


1^'  >  ■' 


"Eh?*  Xord  bless  the  man !— what's  the  matter?" 
said  the  squire,  staring  at  him  until  his  little  fat  eyes 
seemed  ready  to  burst  from  their  sockets. 
_  *|What  did  you  say?— found  her  on  the  beach  on 
Christmas  Eve,  seventeen  years  ago?"  said  the  doctor, 
sdzing  him  fiercely  by  the  arm,  and  glaring  upon  him 
With  his  yellow  eyes. 

«  Yes,  I  said  so.  What  in  the  name  of  all  the  dei^dns 
Is  the  matter  with  you  ?"  roared  the  squire,  shaking  him 
oflE.    *'  What  do  you  k  now  about  it  ?" 

"  Nothing  !  nothing  !  nothjpg !"  replied  the  doctor, 
remembering  himself,  and  sinking  back  iin  his  chair 
•*  Pra3r,  go  on."  1. 

The  squire  eyed  him  suspiciously.  .  < 

"My  dear  sir,"  said  the  doctor,  every  trace  of  eiri6>. 
tion  now  passed  away,   "forgive    my   violence.    But, 

really,  the  story  seemed  so  improbable -" 

"Improbable  or  not,  sir,"  interrupted  t|ie  squire, 
^ngry.at  being  doubted,  "it's  true  as  Gospel.  It) Was  « 
#nowy,  unpltoaant  night.  Mra  Gower  and  Jupiter  were 
returning  from  the  city,  and  took  the  shore  road  in  pref- 
erence to  going  over  the  hills.  As  they  went  along, 
Mrs.  Gower  was  forced  to  get  out  on  account  of  the 
dangerous  road ;  and  hearing  a  child  cry,  she  stooped 
down,  and  found  Gipsy  lying  wrapped  up  i^  a|hawl,  in 
the  sand.  Well,  sir,  my  housekeeper,  as' a  matter  of 
dburae— being  a  humane  woman— brought  the  child 
(which  cou^jMrot  ISkve  been  a  week  old)  home,  and  gave 
it  her  name.  Ajid  iAat,  sir,  is  the  history  of  .Gipsy 
Gower,  let  it  seem  ever  so  improbable."  ^       , 

Like  lightnins^  there  flashed  across  the  mind  of  the 
ctor  the  recollection  of  the  advancing   sleigh-belts 


doctor  the  recol 


7  > 


wnirn  nsd  startle  i-him  trqm  the  beach.  ~^4rfs^tfaqn,  was 
the  spcrct   of   her   disappearance  I     Thia^    then,' 


'*A  1 


V 


'A 


.  f"f 


«■• 


-I' 


f, 


.,^' 


H*"^ 


Wllf 


V"     ^ 


/.-X 
»■ 

'  n. 


TJTjB    SPIZ>£Jt 


WEAVES 


M/&    WEB,   ^f 


the  child  of  Esther  Erliston  and  Alfred  Orenniorel 
This  wild,  untamed,  daring  elf  was  the  heiress,  in  her 
mother's  right,  of  all  the  broad  lands  of  the  Erlistons. 
She  had  been  brought  Up  as  a  dependent  in  the  house  of 
which  she  Was  the  rightful  heiress:  and  the  squire 
dreamed  ijot  that  his  «  monkey"  was  his  gmndohiid  I 

Thoughts  like  these  flashed  like  lightnijng: through 
the  mind  of  Dr.  Wiseman.    The  suddett,  stttrtitng-  di  ' 


covery  bewi*dej-ed  him  ;  he  felt  une<|||a!  to  the  tas¥o 
conversing.  And  making  some  excus^,  he  arose  abruM. 
Ij,  entered-his  gig,  and  letting  thevfein|  faH  on  his 
horse's  neck,^lowed  him  to  make  the  best  olhis  way 
home;  while,  with  his  head  dropped  on  his\ breast/ 
he  pondered  on  the  strange  disclosure  he  hid.  ink 
heard.  ^._^_^-:' ■'-•-'  -■•■  ,  :-.-;^ ,.:  ;•  .-,   ■  ^^  JZ 

No  one  living,  it  was  evident,  knew!  wW  sh 
save  himself.  What  would  old  Dame  jOranmori 
when  she  heard  it  ?  Wretch  as  he  was,  hifound  hi..«»*. 
forced  to  acknowledge  the  hand  of  a  ruling  Providence 
in  all  this.  The  child  who  had  been  cast  out  to  die  had 
b«en  nurtured  in  the  home  that  was  hers  by  right.  By 
kis  handvthe  another  had  perished  ;/yjpt  the  heroism  of 
th^daughter  had^  preserved  his  worth^s  life.  , 

"What  use  shall  I  make  of  this;  discovery  r  lifl 
infused,  as  he  rode  along.  "How  canil  turn  it  to  my 
;■  own  advantage  ?  If  I  wish  it,  I  can  find  little  diflBcuity 
m  convincing  the  world  that  she  is  the  rightful  heiress 
of  Mount  Sunset,  instead  of  Louis  Oranmore.  But  how 
to  do  it,  without  implicating  myself— that's'the  question. 
The/e  was  no  witness  to  the  death-bed  scene  of  £§tb6r 
Erliston ;  and  I  can  assert^Jiat  Madam  Oranmore  caufed 
me  to  remove  th^  child,  without  mentioning  the  mother 
*'  •***    f_^"  »|so«>siiy  feign  some  excuse Jqr  leaving 


■\---A 


1#' 


^ler  in  ihesnow—talk  aboutlny  remorse  and  anguish"ii^ 
finding  her  gone^  and  lUl  that.    Now,  if  I  could  only  gel 


i* 


; 


Ct^- 


•^5, 


X- 


I, 

^ 


t: 


::♦:*■ 


^? 


#'- 


? 


?'^.-.. 


V. 


this  hare-brained  girl  securely  in  my  power,  in  such  A 
way  as  to  make  her  money  the  price  of  her  freedom,  I 
would  not  hesitate  one  moment  about  proclaiming  it  aH. 
But  how  to  get  her  in  my  power— ^he  is  keen  and  widci 
awake,  with  all  her  madness,  and  not  half  so  easily  duped 
a»  most  girls  of  her  age  Let  me  think  !" 
^  ^  His  head  fell  lower,  his  elaw-like  hands  opened  and 
shut  as  though  clutching  some  one,  his  brows  knit  in  a 
hard  ^hot,  and  his  eyes  seemed  burning  holes  in  the 
ground,  with  their  wicked,  immovable  gaze. 

At  last,  his  mind  (teemed  to  be  made  up.    Lifting  his 

^^  ^^  ***^'  ^*'^  ^^^"'  ^*'*™  determination  : 

^    *  Yes,  my  mind  is  made  up  ;  that— girl—shall— b»— 

4(gaii|  be  paused.  His  project,  when  repeated  aloud, 
seeme^  so  impossible  t6  accomplish  that  it  almost 
stattled  him.. 

•    "it  may  be  difficult  to  bring  about,"  he  said,  as  if  in 
answer  to  his  momentary  hesitation.     "  No  doubt  it  will  '^ 
but,  nevertheless,  it  shall,  it  will,  ii  must  be  done  I    Onc^ 
her  husband,  and  I  shall  have  a  legal  right  to  everythine 
she  possesses.    The  world  need  not  know  I  have  made 
the  discovery  until  after  our  marriage  ;  it  shall  think  ir- 
is for  love  I  marry  her.     Love!-ha,ha,ha!    Just  fane/ 
Dr    Wiseman,  at  the  age  pf,  fifty-nine,  falling  in  lovV^ 
with  a  chit  of  a  girl  of  sefe^teen  !    Well,  I  shall  set  my 
wits  to  work  ;  and  if  I  fall  to  accomplish  it,  it  will  be  the. 
firet  tinie  I  have  ever  failed  in  ^ught  I  have  undiJrtaken. 
She  calls  me  a  spider;   let  hfer  take  care  lest  she  be 
caught— lest  her  bright  wings  are  imprisoned  in  the  web 
I  ^ill  weave.    Her  opposition  will  be  fierce  and  firm  • 
and,  if  I  have   studied  her  aright,  she  can  only  be' 
conquered  through  those  she  loves.    That  she  loves  that 
whipper-snapper  of  a  nephcinjir  of  mine,  I   have  lonir 
known ;  and  yet  that  very  love  ^IJnU  mfllrr  hflr  b^comt 


':^:^ 


)'** 


r- 


TffJS  SPWER    J^JF£S   JI/S   JF£&   9Q9 

"7  ^»??-    And  SO  my  bright  little  Gipsy  Gower-^r 
Gipsy  Orknrtibre— from  this  day  forth  you  are  mine  !" 

"Look  here,  aunty,"  said  Gipsy,  following  Mrs. 
Gower,  as  she  wandered  through  the  house,  brush  in 
hand,  "  wljat  brings  that  old  spider  here  so  often  of.  late? 
He  and  Guardy  appear  to  be  as  rilick  as-twifpickpockets 
—though,  a  few  yeara  agg^  Guardy  digested  the  sight  of 
him.  They  are^^  for  everlasting  closeted  together,  plotting 
something.  \  Now,  aunty,  it  looks  suspicious,  don't  it  ?" 

*'  I  am  afraid  Dr.  Wiseman  is  drawing  your  guardian 
intb  some  rash  speculation,"  said  Mrs.  Gower,  "The 
squire  is  always  muttering  about  'stocks,'  and  Mnter- 
est,'  and  such  things.  I  am  afraid  the  doctor  is  using 
him  for  his  own  purposes.  Heaven  foi-give  meif  I  wronir 
him !"  t  i 

"Wrong  him!  I  tell  you,  auiity,  that  Spider's  a 
regular  snake.  I  wouldn^t  trust  Mm  as  far  as  I  could  , 
see  him.  He  has  a  way  of  looking  at  me  that  I  don't 
half  like.  Whenever  I'^  in  the  room  he  stares  and 
stares  at  me,  as  if  I  were  £6me  natural  curiosity.  Per- 
haps he's  falling  in  love  with  me.  There!  I  tellyou 
what,  aunty— I've  just  hit  the  right  thing  in  the  middle 
--he's  meditating  whether  or  not  he'll  raise  me  to  the 
digtiity  of  Mrs.  Spider  Wiseman— I  know  he  is!"  ex- 
claimed  tripsy,  laughing,  little  dreaming  how  near  she 
had  stumbled  to  the  truth. 

^*  Nonsense,  child.  A  man  of  Dr.  Wiseman's  age  and 
habits  has  little  thought  of  takingra  wife,  much  less  such 
a  wild  one  as  you.  I  hope  it  may  all  turn  out  welL 
thougfal I  have  my  doubts," 

"So  have  I,"  said  Gipsy  ;  "aiid  Fih  going  to  keep  a 
bright  lookout  for  breakers  ^h«?ad.    If  that  yellow  old 
yy  t!J^lio^J9Mozlc  PQitn^d        simple  Gnardy,  he^«-^ 
find  himselMi  a  worse  scrapi  than  when  I  saved  him 


"^*   'V. 


,    /. 


.-   ' 


\  > 


/  .-4  ''^" 


"i :':' 


"■<,' 


MV 


f  * 


from  drowning''    t  u 

_    ..     world  generally.     And  X' , ""■»"•«»<»  "tool  A, 
•«  if  I  can  do  anytrno.  ?"        ^"  ""  "P  "«irs,  and 
While  Gip,n«conl/r^'"""""«^-"  Liz."   '      ^. 

betw„i  the  squire  and  {he  d^t^,*!"!,"" :«  '"•  Parlo,  ; 

Jwad  of  his  ward  mThVL^i,      ^^^''  "*  "■"'^e'-  that  the 

;  l>r.-1Vi«,„an  k.^f^'  .'he   '■''•"'  'J'  ""  '"^^ 
|or  speculating.    TalcUg  adva^^"^ '""J"  had  a  »„.„!. 

.    *J"  into  investing  in^dmem-^'''*''°''*PP«<> 
Jhedoctor  well  kl^Xl^f,''^""''  ?''"»''  ^UeS^aa 

l«Mly  in  debt.    Of  ail  h^  "«..';"'"«  '^^  «J"ire  ho^     - 

ihnaelf  themost;  forthat  11-      "  *«  ""od  the  doctor 

tending  him  largo  stt  r^T*  °''°  '"«'  '■»«"»'«»  o» 

*>eofpay„.enfwas^hanraL"'T^-    ^-^-o^the 
Mm  the  money  ?  ""'  '"^  "'•«•«  should  he  ob- 

s„^i::^'aT^;jt;;:'^»^ '-.-tat,  of  M^^^^ 

*^i  'oWsgmndsonTa^d  thr^"'-  "i:'  ""»"»»  «<> 
pride  to  allow  it  toiro  to  hLk    i  *  *•""*  '"^  too  much 
could  h.mortga^:^;'";:^''«^=»«>ji".  debt    NeitS 
He  felt  that  his  hiir  ouehVn«  V      I    ^^  °*  «<»  debt 
*««..    Besides,  he  did  C  w  sh  wf  i  ""J"'  ■*"»  '°'^- 
how  ««regio„sly  te  h«l  ^loMrf  h?mJr""'f°"  *°  '"'<"' 
»  •«  of  sharpers.    Thenrfo^fT  ■"""««  '<>  be  duped  br 

««o«or.  haIfS„^efi^'.TS™int".hr  "'  """"»8^»  ««• 
-tlie  amooM  of  debts  wAteh  I^f  5"  "'*"' »'  «» '«««» 

while  the  doctor  co„doM  wiSf^f"" """"<" P-^C 

-s:2'»''^'»«=^of'ir,zr'^^  -^ 

J^Qore,  to  i^hom  you  are  indebted      - 


S  •    .  I 


A 


'1.  > 


to  the  amoiiiii  ai 


.My 


If 

nights      «    , 

shtho      r 

s,  and     .        ' 

■  ■  1 

adja-.        >,' 
>arlor 

r!-' '"-'    »" 

^■■-:^■- 


-  ■<'»■. 


,/j 


^' 


twenty  thousand  dollars,  even  goes  so  far  as  to  thr.^t*M^ 
v^w  proceedings  if  he  is  not  iimnediatcly  r^id^'  S^ 
dbctor.  continuing  the  conversation.  ^    '  '^"^ 

The  squire  groaned.  -  -         ""^ 

^  "I  told  him  it  might  not  be  convenient  for  you  to 
niec  so  many  heavy  liabilities  at  once:  buthe  wm,  d 
not  listen  to  reason-safd  he  would  give  you  a  w^ek  o 
dehberate,  and  if  at  the  end  pf  that  tfme  the  money  was 
not  forthcomings  your  rascality,  as  he  termed  kshoufd 
-  tZ;^^^r^^  ^^  -^^'  -<»  the  ^f^ 

'     "hu  ^"^J'  "^'^.'l!^  '^"^'•^'  writhing  inwardly;  ^'i 
Moun^V  '         ''"'r"''^"'  ^°"^''  ^^  to  <^btain  aclaim  on 
Z^l  ?""''■  '  *"*^'  ^^"*'  °'^^^  ^'•^ditors  Mtiinir  him 
the  whole  estate  will  finally  become  theirs."        ^         * 

feet      "7  wi  .''ir*;'  '*'"  squire,  leaping  fiercely  t.o  his 
recL        I  wi/11   shoot  every  villain  among  them  fir«M 
Mount  Sunset  has  hf^eq  in  our  family  for  velr,  .nH 
.  gang  of  swindlers  shall  e^r  pos^s  U  "      ^       '  *"^  °° 

berxdfed^^n'l;""'?  '"'  doctor,  soothingly,  "do  not 

worse     Yoa  LI  '''  *"^  ^^"  *^*^  "^"^^  "««er. 

Sre  is  „!.t      iru  '''^  *^o"^Pl«t«iy  '°  their  power,  and 

^  ^Ho  I  te    ".^'cP'  °^  """"P^-    In  spite  of  air  y^/u 

^"Iy-4^  o.  upo,  eho^orld^par^^ 

The  unhappy  squire  sank  back  in  his  chair  •  and  cov 

d Jn!^T}°'i'. '°"""  "O"."  continued  the'mereiieM 


nofM^r^^«^^  M».tp.obabi^ti;,^;;;r^;;;^nHS-  v 


■..v*l 


V.''! 


r   ' 


—iil 


axa 


"^ . 


'^  ^^  »^^,^  »^ 


•■v\ 


Nc^  sir.  he  |.a,  „o.  »ank  so SSW" f»  "ving , 

guinea  .o  keeji  bim.from  "tar^°^    B^^J'  «''''*  ""  » 
Squire  Erijston,  live  on  th.  h       *^'   ?*""'«'.  would  »i, 

•iMd  .he  doc.or/„ii:rsat..&ee°' *''^  *^-""^'^ 

"Not  on  sucfi'^securitv  «- 
Eriiston,"  said  ^To^["r"  ^°"  '[o-M  gi«,  Squi™ 

sir.  itj,  u«ies,  ,o  .hinTof 'esS;       '»{«>. -7  dcr 

"^ZitcrK^'tf^^^^^^^^ "°'"" 

«««».«i  tbe   squji    L  L^  "  *?'«''«»ly  duped!" 

«ferace  should  aHJMBiiJ^IjMF'."'  ""'"  "««  Such 
poor  touis  I  BifWSlTZr  \^' '  -*■'<'  Louis  !_ 
Sunset  be  ulcVnS^'eu^'tJ'T '«»'-•    """""t 

tr«a,dpict„„.b<^,X  Jd'^r.'"^''-"-  Every 
Wemoor,  Of  the  past  •  anVi  „1  ^T  "  '"'"o»«l  by  the 

M--;  »»»»'» *1»  time  to  make  Usdrri?"''^'''"?'' «»'"«.• 


'.  4/1.' 


■   fj    : 


■A!--- 


BB, 


'4>- ; 


•^->.;  7-^ 


^ifm  first ' 

Bddened 

living  i 

need  be, 

ore  stiil 


^  ,, , ..  .^ 


SPWBB    WBAVBS   MIS    HTBB. 


S  '» 


T^ 


his  un- 
t.    Siie 
him  a 
lid  you, 
aore?" 

e^d  " 
e  *one 
:ursed 

iquire 

dear 

fount 

lat  I 
Bd  I" 
orsc. 
such 
J  I—        ' 

mot 
^ery 
the 
i  it 

>  18 

e; 
ilft      - 


\  *-. 


!.  4/1.' 


i;: 


":  t ' 


I,  "' 

?«'.?'  *'^f??*  °'"  *''*  "Sonles  of  hi.  victim  •  «ui  ,h 
»  .low,  dellbeme  toaes, Ite  .aid  •  "•  T*  *'^''> 

«».f:,'  o'nf^^orLt'-  S'""",.Erli«4,  .here  „1« 

.  *o6.dyoud».f^;t  «!:;^V':^$r^  ^"^ 

*.        "  Do  !"  exclaimed  the'  squire   leaDini.  in  A       • 
mentt.6m  the  chair.    -2P^  diH^.:^?^V",mP^»' 
Wiseman,  there  is  oothinor  nnnZ  k  ^^^^  '•*^w»  ^r. 

-  main  yours."  '     ^ "*'  ^""^  ^°"°*  S"nwt  liU  re- 

y^  though  you  shouhl  ^ven  ask  my  life  f  § 

■  75fa/  would  b^  nf  ii»jl         f»^"»yiiie!  ^ 

dact9r,  with  a  d^r  smi?a    "to  :Trk '"  "^"  ""^^  *^« 
easier.*'   ■       *  "  "^      #<>  ?  *  ask  somethiug  nfuch 

^For  H^eo's  «ake  nam^  ^claimed  the  sijuir^ 

"What?"'  "-  ■•■■■"  ^'"^'M^---7^^:.;^^  .■■■;;  \\ 

.^ou,hdoub.i4ei..rvide»!^^hi.n:;^"'  ''^i?"' « 


# 


.^^a.uii;ri;:siajn!;y4C:-'^; 


'^  U!^^mmDiM.]^^-< 


' :  *'i 


•  / 


It*' 


,'V 


It' 


'?t '. 


/J^ 


9„- 


/    - 


«4  rsa  JWiJiM  WMxrss  sis'^st, 

Gower!^"**'  ,he  hand  of  ycr  youfig  iL^Gipqr'' 

"But^Lordblessmel  my  ^^^sir  what^inW«,#v,i^ 

,  <*M«.  want  with  .h.t  chU  It  a  chUd-T^  m^rflrrtl, 

^oa.„,„s_fo^.  wifer  «ccl,ia.edU»  s,^^l,5f 

«  OTi.     „   ^     ^^  '°  "".''  proposal  ?•• 

the  thint^UiT  "'.'""*'  T"«'''  *""  ''•'^^'  »■••  Wiseman. 
ShVr  \    ''°P5'<?f'-=*<"l  never  consent  in  mis  world 

^Wir.     "  "''"'■'«««»  « ll"le  mule  when  she"S 

pnt,   as  bolomon  says.  .  " 

"You  must  make  her," 
"  Me  I    Why,  she  doesn't  mind  ^ < 

-*^^?n^"T"   ^'"^r^'^    broke  in' the  doctdn 

'  nnS    S-        '  ^J""^^  ^°"  *"'^  M«"»'  Sunset  and  are 

^t^<:';^^r'':'  will  compel  thlsgirl^ma?;^ 

.     "  There !  there  1  don't  be  hasty !    I'll  do  vhat  I  can 
It  won't  be  my  fault  if  she  don't.    Bat  who'd  ever  rt?„k 

Wonders  will  never  cease,';  as  Solomon  says." 

You  can  ejfplain  tlie  matter  to  her-utms  herbv  her 

•  ^'^^:'  V  '°"  'rj'"'-  '"  ■=""«■«•■■  »id'he  doJtoH 
try  the  sentimental  dodge-commands  in  this  case  will 

^H  r°  '^u  r'*"^    ^''"»'  "» ''°°«"  on  your  Side' 

chtaM  R,       •";S't''"P  "  "  P™'"""*"  »«=ref  from  £: 
chlbald  Rivers  an*  Louis  Oranmore.    If  none  of  voor 

a.yument,  movx,  her,  I  have  nill  another  in  reLrveXI 

I  know  will  cliilch  the  business.    Giv,  her  nTrSt  d^v 

er  n,ght,  «.til  ,he  consents ;  and  if  she  comptato.  rf 

•n^h^be.nghalf^razy,a.  she  ^  it  seem,  to  me-X' 
greyest  favor  you  can^.jo  her  is  to  marnr  her  to  TJZ 


'>    «>'• 


:jAi*j'.-. 


;',rfe;v'»^i\:y&i^?^^M^^^^ 


'■  •::8«i;37Jtf».1^«r !'  <W<';K?'5.-^-.;.:''-<>  '-■  w.  • 


H!^M 


■»U'14J>' 


,  V 


MOR    TMM   EAGLMT,        »t$ 


of  sense  and  experience  like  myself.  Keep  in  mind  what 
you  lose  by  her  refusal,  and  what  you  gain  by  her  con- 
sent. If  she  will  not  marry  me,  I  will  add  ray  claims  ttf?; 
those  of  your  other  creditors,  and  no  earthly  power  will 
be  able  to  save  you  from  total  ruin,"  said  the  doctor,  with 
grim,  iron  determination. 

**  She  shall  consent !  she  shall^she  musff"  said  the 
Squire,  startled  by  his  last  threat ;  "  she  shall  be  your  wife^ 
that  .is  settled.  I  think  I  can  manage  her^  though  it  iviU 
be  a  desperate  struggle." 

"I  shall  force  myself  into  her  presence  as  little  as 
possible,"  said  the  doctor,  calmly ;  "  she  has  no  particular 
love  for  me  as  yet,  and  it  will  not  help  on  my  cas^r 
Mind,  I  shall  expect  you  will  use  all  your  energies,  for 
our  marriage  must  take  place  in  a  month  at  farthest^" 
jgaid  the  doctor,  as  he  arose,  and,  with  a  last  expressive 
glance  at  his  victim,  withdrew. 


- 1  'r2 


r 


-^ 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

FBTTBIIS   FOR   tflE  &AGLBT. 

'.        -  .  ■    ■■■-'■"■'    ■/■"■/■,- 

Tm  o'er  young,  I'm  o'er  young^ 
I'ta  o'er  young  to  many  yet. 
rm  o'er  young ;  'twould  be  a  sin 
To  take  me  from  my  mammy  yet."— BintN& 

|IPSY,  my  dear,  come  here  and  sit  beside  me. 
I  have  something  very  important  to  say  to 
you,"  said  the  squire,  as,  half  an  hour  later, 
he  caught  sight  of  Gipsy,  running,  singing, 
down  stairs. 


^%t 


Why,  fiuflrdy,  what's 'the  matter?     You  IwjI- 


I" 
T 


•^  V 


'mi 


=mF 


■"T'"W 


.   >x 


Ktr. 


fe : 


»?..'•' 


az6 


'  '^2^^*''^  ■ 


^-iv 


.^ 


J^£TT£JtS   FOR    TffE   EAGLET, 


I,  ,"• 


^Gii)^  marriage  is  a  solemn /subject."  "^  v 

" rm  thinking  of  marrying  you *' 

"  Marrying  «^/   Oh,  Jenjialem  »    Well  Mi^ 
sents,  I'm  willing.      La  '  >Jm  k  h*.  f    \    f "ntJ  con- 

LouiscaUing  n^rand^^  ^^^l^f'    '""  "^"^ 
was  2;^^^:^^-^^"^  ^  As  I 

some  discreet,  sensible  m«„v^        marrying  you  to 
.idd,  a  d       .    -^^,  -^J<.u  a^  .^^^^^^^^^  .„, 

Justso  Guardy;  I've  been  thinking  of  it  mvself  •• 

i.an~e:s,tr,^r^r;:r^^'hr^  H^ 

FoM^^nXp::^  -„;:l  -  ornamenui. 
the  crows."  ^     >«  a  corn-field  to  scareaway- 

».:p^n!x:t?Se?:::?;^ 
.»d.s^:;i:r,rerxte';;rr.-"'-'"'>'-'-'''"'^ 

"Silence,  and  listen  to  me »    "Now  who*  ;2«    :» 
^uUU^u  po^b.,  n.ke  .o  D^  J^  ^ 

"Asa  husband?    Ha.  ha.  ha  I    Wh*^  n      j  * 

^nd  the^o.herover.hefa.ce,  i,  jhi,ki„g  |,  ^^l^^^^jip  , 
.    "H°'«ijroartongue;oryoa'lllo8eit.yoalittlewretchl     ,' 


%: 


HA. 


irr 


\> 


/, 


r. 


:f" 


l^L/- 


Dd  sitting 

■    .^ 

are  you 

Ltntycon- 
ist  fancy 

c.    As  I 

?  you  to 
'ild  and 

0." 

myself." 
i.  He'd 
intgen- 
learnedy 

mental, 
re  away- 

rWise, 


f  death 

lection 
a  hus- 

Tr  you 
>indle- 
grave, 
ring— . 

retch! 


-'5^' 


of  laughter  that  made  ^"r""''^ ''''"' '"'o  »»''oS? 
*a»df  'O  her  Sid*,,  she!aithJi°Z>''  ^    •""»«■«  "c^ 
■>«■  eheeks  ;  aW  at  las.  3=1?      '"  "**  '«"  «n  down 
•eat  on  to  the  a"«d'trbl^'!  ""P"  *«  ">"«« »« W 
fea  conyuisiou.        \      "'"^  <•""■  •«<»  over  in  a  rji 

•?«"  «6e  wa,  brithl^'  '"fe^houw,,,  and  .hiing  htr  ' 

rtf  -P»%i.teTti  *>^'^;r:!!'.'"*«PoB.enr«d 
Gipsy  Wip^tfce  tears  itomh~!^'""''T"^''iTtlm 

•' ol^r,?'*'  — «<  -efsear  ^"''  '"^■'«  "^ 

^;rou''^o!.tCre^-4:.-ff-.^^^ 

Of  ulf  r-'°"' °-''«'' '  "o-Wa-trou  let  „„,  h,^p.„ 

"Silence,  I  tell  vmi  t    /ij 

doing  ;  but/  child/ rjavf  D  '''^'  "  ^'••^  '  '>«^W         ' 
Mount  8.itiset   u.i  .  .^Z*^?  ^^'"c    '"—   •      -^^ 


"^  iSimset   will  be  taken  fr^    '"^^^^^^  ^°  J^»H. 

S.  ftnH  »k^  ^^..     7^    '**.**»    from    me.   nn/l  «^..     .     . 


I'ouis^andthemtof 

19 


u»  Wiil  be  beg^rs,' 


me,  and 


you,  and 


J: 


.1 


T- 


■I    ''I 
'  •1  '  f J 


^ 


\ 


*^: 


^' 


r 

k 
If*' 


1^ 


.1 


^^ 


21%      jFEtters  for  the  eaglet. 

Up  flew  Gipsy's  eyebrows,  open  flew  her  eyes,  and 
down  dr(^pped  her  chin,  in  unfeigned  aifiazement.  '' 

"Yes,"  continued  the  squire,  "  you  may  %tare,  but  it's 
true.  And  now,  Gipsy,  since  you  told  me  you  were  not 
ungrateful — now  is  the  time  to  prov$  it,  by  saving  me, 
and  all  your  friiRds  from  ruin.".  C 

"/  save  you  from  ruin  ?"  said  Gipsy,  staring  with  all 
her  eyes, mid  wigindering^  if"  Giiardy  "  was  wandering  in 
hiamind.    ■'   ■"  *y"' V-.-  "■■'v:,;-- ^  ■  -  ■ 

"Yes,  >»<».  As.  1 1  told  you,  I  am  involved  in  debt, 
which  it  is  Utterly  impossible  for  me  to  pay.  Now,  Doc- 
tor Wiseman,  who  has  fallen  in  love  with  my  fairy,  has 
offered  to  pay  my  debts  if  you  will  marry  him*  Don^t 
laugh,  dorCt^  as  I  see  you  are  going  to  do-HJiis  is  no  time 
for  laughter,  Gipsy."  ,  "^    >      .  ;     t 

"  Oh,  but  Guardy,  that's  too  funny  I    The  idea  of  me, 

a  little  girl  of  seventeen,\  marrying  a  mdn  of  sixty — 

.  'specially  such  a  man  as  Spider  Wiseman  !    Oh,  Guardy, 

it's  the  best  joke  of  the  season!"  cried  Gip^,bCir8ting 

into  another  immoderate  fit  of  laughter. 

,     **  Ungrateful,  hard-hearted  girl  1"  said    the   squir^ 

with  tears  actually  in  his  stormy  old  eyes  ;  "  this  is  your 

return  for  all  I  have  done  for  you  !    You,  the  only  living 

.being  who  can  save  those  iK^b  have  been  your  best 

friends  from  being  turned  out  of  the  old  homestead, 

instead  of  rejoicing   in  being  able  to  do  it,  you  only 

laugh  at  him  in  scorn,  you — "  (he  squire  broke  down 

fairly  here.  •  .      " 

,   Never  had  the  elf  seen  the  usually  violent  old  man  so' 

jribved,     A  pang  shot  through  her  heart  for  her  levity  ; 

and  the  next  moment  her  arms  were  round  his  neck,  and 

her  white  handkerchief  wiping  away  the  tears  of  which 

he  was  Ashamed.  ',-  ' 


'  f 


you  felt  so  bad  about  it.    I'll  do  anything  in  the  worli 


•Wk^'. 


VJ.' 


-  .fi- 


-  / 


^To  save  me.  by  marrying  Doctor  Wiseman,  py 


dear.' 


"Oh,Guardy;  o\i,  Guari^    You  sui^lfwerett't  s^- 
■:  *S.'"  ^~^°'^°^  ^«/nexa^d  Gipsy.  Veally  aston- 

mvni^^T^    ^ffV  ^'''''  "^^"^^°  ««"«^s  before  in 
my  life.     You  will  do  this,  Gipsy  ?" 

rf«WH'r?""'^^.'u^*^'^  '*''^'    ««*^«°  forbidl"  ex- 
claimed Gipsy,  with  a  violent  shudder 

r  Jf  J*"®"  ^°".'^'"  ^^^  "'  *"  ^«  '"™«^  out  from  the  old 
roof-tree-out  into  the  world  to  die;  for,  Gipsy  if  the 

tto^uLTgHef^^"^'^-  "^^'  ^  ^^-^^  br;a.^myU^ 

dnn.  JJ^""*  ^^  ^  1*'®  ™^"'^^°-    )Child,  nothing  can  be , 
"fohfrK*"  "•  ""'T^°"  consent  to  this  marriage." 
Oh!  that  IS  too  horrible  even  to  think  of.   S^  you 
-Ujtwme  to  Louis?    I'm  sure  he  could  do  somethi J'" 

it  JfJT'  F  ''°"^''  "^^  "°'*^"«^ '  *°^  ^«  ™"«'  ticver  know 
il^h  hL  ^^"  supposing  he  could,  before  a  letter  could 
b^ln  "^^  ""^"'^  ^^  publicly  disgraced-I  should  be 
bmnded  as  a  rogue,  and  turned  out  of  doors  to  die.    No 

cW /h^K*"-^'  you  consent,  before  the  week  is  out,  to  be^ 
lad  .h  K  %'"'  ^°''^'"  Wiseman,  all  h6p6  will  be  over, 
mrlf    J?^  afterward,  by    some  hitherto  unheard  of 

IwU  7-    K  '  ^°''^^^''"  P^*"^^*'  ^°  refusing,  Gipsy. 

Lit      ^'J  "^  r "  ^*"^'  '°°"«'-  ^'»»°  live  to  £  brand 
ed  like  a  felon.    And  Lizzie  and  »'-    - 


___r "^  ^«««^iv  aim I'f  rs.  vyQwerj  wno  \nv^- 

that  all  had  been  lost  through  your  ingratitude  •    Loui^ 


:#'■ 


vr-i 


-  i    , 


'^.  -^r  rf  4^-('«^#ri 


■■?■;'■   •■ 


A  ■'  't'imm? 


''-A 


too,  ybiir  fostei'-brother,  how  will  he  look  oh  th6  girl 
whose  obstinacy  Will  make  him  a  beggar  ?  Gonsent  aild 
all  will  be  well,  the,  gratitude  and  love  of  an  old  man 
will  bless  you  through  life ;  re/use,  and  my  death  will  be 
on  your  soul,  haunting  you  through  aH  your  cheerless, 
unblessed  life/' 

-pyrWith  all  the  eloquence  and  passion  of  intense  selfish- 
lieijs  he  spoke,  while  each  word  burned  into  the  heart  and 
soul  of  his  listener.  She  was  pacing  up  and  down  the 
floor,  half-maddened  by  his  words,  while  the  Word  in- 
gratitude  seemed  danciiig  in  living^letters  of  fire  h^ote 
her.  -■''--  \ 

"  Oh  !  ivhSat  shall  I  do  ?  What  shall  I  do  ?"  she  cried, 
Wringing  her  hands  wildly. 

"  Let  me  advise  you  ;  lam  older  and  have  had  ex- 
perience, aiid  a  claim  on  your  obedience.  Marry  Doctor 
Wiseman-;  he  is,  I  know,  somewhat  Older  than  yoU,  but 
jrou  need  a  man  of  age  and  wisdoni.  Me  is  rich,  and  loves 
*you ;  and  with  him,  c^scipus  that  you  have  done  yotir 
duty,  you  will  be  blessed  by  God,  and  be  happy.*' 

*•  Happy  !"  she  broke  in,  scornfully,  «  and  with  hint ! 
Happy!"  , 

"It  lis  the  first  favOr  I  ever  asKed  of  jrdu,  Gipsy,  and 
I  know  you  will  not  refuse.  No  one  must  know  of  it, 
hot  one,  save  Lizzie  and  Mrs.  Gower.  You  must  not 
breathe  it  to  a  living  soul,  save  them." 

".GUardy,  there  is  some  guilt  or  my8tei7  (connected 
#!th  this  debt .  What  is  it  ?" 

*•  I. can  not  tell  you  now,  child  ;  when  you  have  obeyed 
me,  I  will.  Come,  Doctor  WisemaU  will  be  here  for 
your  answer  to-morrow.  Shall  I  tell  him  you  have  con 
seated  ?"__        / 


A 


^■■ 


'  >  <\ 


"Ohl  hd.iior1  ho,no!  ^od  ihekvei3n''  she  cried, 
shadderingly. 


■17    . 

1  A     =^*-* 


•>, 

'•i' 

\^^9i 

<.-&^^^5 

^ 

'"  r  '.t~  .;,>^'^-  ■ ' '  '^•^fc.; ■>*-•* '>>-vir 


Vi- 


'       s' 


hold  K  Sf.?  lTs::;::,  ' '7'or.  you.  b^  ».■  you 

he  ««d,  with  wild  'vebe„«::*        '"^''*"'  '"  °'-»'«''' 
dono.J,^reTo'U,r.^°',U,'trV    Oh    G„.My. 


\ 


'^'         ■*l 


.-Sr^^l^ZZ^^^^    ThlMhep^Cour 

-  .    -y^^^^^'ni^Z^  Iwlllworkforyou 

the  bone,  if  need  b"  I  ^o tork  »  """^u "^  ^"8«"  '» 
think."  '^'' ""'''■nore  than  you  would 

o"^-»  -  -^--  of  :''irw- -li 

;■ '  »^-^">:^t^^^:^- 
my  answer."  '  *'"' .'"•'A^'??"' r<><»  jMwJI  Iww 

>«'t"S^nk'"::ieLi;^"  I'f"  •»  '""-bi^  i  <u« 

know."         "r'i^S      To-morrow   morning    I   will 


-"■^1^ 


»V'ji«,i-fe'^';j 


1 

w '' 

;• 

m .»' 

iipl' 

*'  ^Ml^  J  ■ 

iv 

^ 

*^ 


%*;■:. 


Si 


sa« 


rff£   BIRD    CAGED, 


To-morrow,"  said  tlie  old  sinner,  looking  after  her.       ' 
And  what  will  that  answer  be  ?    '  Who  can  tell  what  a 
day  may  bring  forth  ?' as  Solomon  says." 


CHAPTER  XXII.     y  ^    ^ 

TIfp  BIRD  CAGED. 

ay  on  him  the  curse  of  a  withered  heart, 
\The  curse  of  a  sleepless  eye  ; 
THl  he  wish  and  pray  that  his  life  would  part.         X 
Nor  yet  and  leave  to  die.  "—Scott. 

ORnWg  came.  The  squire  sat  in  the  break- 
fast\parlor,  impatiently  waiting  for  the  com- 
ing 6f  Gipsy.  He  waited  in  vain.  The  mo- 
menti  flew  on  ;  still  she  canjie  not. 

L6singpatienceat  last,  he  caught  the  bell- 
rope  and  rang  a  furious  peal.  Five  minutes  after  the 
black  face  and  w^oolly  head  of  Totty  appeared  in  the 
door-way.  \ 

"Totty,  where*s\ your  young  mistress  r * 
"  Here  r  answet^d  the  voice  of  Gipsy  herself,  as  she 
stood,  bright  and  sn^iling,  behind  Totty, 

Somehow,  that  sbile  alarmed  the  old  man,  and  be 
began  trembling  for-  the  decisioil  he  had^so  anxiouslv 
been  expecting.  .  / 

"Well,  come  in. 
decision." 

J' Now,  Giiardy,  ^ait  until  after  WakfLst.    How  is 
tr  rto«  f«  #«,«  ..»  opinioki  on  an  empty  stomach,  I'd 


r. 


I  see  you're  going  to 


Clear  out,  totty.  NowT,  Gipsy,  your 


any  pne  to  form  an 

like  to  know  ?    There,  don't  gel  into  a  fidget  about  L  as 


do,  because  it's  no  use.? 


i^'JiiSiyiik 


S    " 


/. 


^ 


l^^^^^ilM^' 


^  /*"'>''  -*  *  -      1         "      i    "         ^     "^^      '  '*'    /  ■^  ^ '■  "        '     \'v 

-  r^sr^  b/j^j:)  caged. 

"  Thn,  ?!'"''•■'*"""-''"'"'"' f"°™ble  ?••    . 

1  Hat  depends  upon  circumstances    Ff  1 1,.., 

:      «ppe.i,e  for  my  breakfast  I  marp'oU  '  tZ    '^°°f- 

/  inina  s  eye.  Shall  I  ring  the  bell  for  Aunty  Gower  ?•• 
cont^^TsTli;!::-'^  "•eCdmao,  -Cr-Is 
yon;?„"S°-°^°"''    °°°''  co-pare  c  ..  .„y  of 

tH.  nil  th.  ^u^ .  fa.  ,u»usa;4»uy^  that  aii^;'.;^ 


■1^ 


'.  .  v,v... 


m 


■  \ 


f..' 


'  'Jv.  \t' , 


^  .        ''- 


/  • 


.,    * 


a34 


THE    BIRD    CA^ED. 


4 


W 


I*' 


/ 


/ 


\ ' 


plunge  a  dagger  intq  ray  own  heart  and  let  out  my  life's 
>  blood.  I  do  not  speak  hastily,  for  Thave  done  that 
which  I  seldom  do— thought  before  I  spoke.  If  we 
really^^s  you  say,  become  poor,  I  am  willing  to  leave 
roy  wild,  free  life,  my  hor^^s,  hounds,  and  the  'merry 
greenwood,'  to  become„  a^iling  kitchen  brownie  for 
youi-  sake.  Do  not  internli^me,  Guardy  ;  nothmg  you 
qui  say  can  change  my  puii)oi5e.  I  am  riot  ungrateful,- 
bijt  I  cannot  commit  a  crime'i-n  the  face  of  high  heaVen, 
Zveri  for  the  sake  of  thqse  I  love  best.  Tell  my  decisilpn 
to  Dr.  Wiseman.  And  now,  Guardy,  this  subject  must 
'  be  forever  dropped  between  us,  for  you  have  heard  =my 

ultimatum."     tt^v 

.  And  wjthoylpWaiting  for  the  words  that  were  ready 
to  burst  forth,  she  arose,  bent  her  graceful  little  head, 
and  walked  out  of  the  room. 

As  she  went  up-staii^,-  on  tier  way  to  her  own  room, 
she  pas9tfd  Lizzie's  chamber."  Mrs.  Oranmore  caughf 
sight  of  her  through  thts  half-opened  door,  aad  called 

her. 

^^  **  Gipsy,  my  love,  come  in  heref." 

Gipsy  went  in.     It  was  a  pleasant,  dtprful  room, 

,with  bright  pictures  on  the  wills,  afidj  rich  crimson 

y 'damask  hangings  in  the  window.     Lizzie  On^nmorei^as 

she  lies  on  her  lounge,  enveloped  in  a  large,  soft  shawl, 

'  is  not  much  like  the  Lizzie,  the  bjfight  littlfc  coquette, 

we  once  knew.     A  pale;  faded  creature  she  is  now,  ^"1*. 

sallow  Cheeks,  and  thin,  pinched  face. 

"Well,  my  dear,"  said  Mrs.  Oraninore,  anxiously, 
«  papa  has  mentioned  this  shocking  affair  to  me.  What 
has  been  your  answer  to  Dr.  Wiseman's  proposal  ?" 
"  Oh,  aunty,  what  could  it  be  but  no  f  You  didn't 
•  suppose  I'd  marry  that  ugly,  old  daddy-long-legs,  did 
you  I  Why,  aunty,  when  I  get  qaarriedi— which  I  never 
win  if  I  can  help  it— for  I  wowW  b«  prpx  free--^  must  lie 


I- 


/; 


-r—iri 


wmr"- 


V 


i  - 


^^ 


:*i       ' 


TffS   £IJiD    tAGMD, 


m 


to  a  lord,  dul^e,  oi  a  Sir  Harjry,  or  something  above  4he 
common.  Just  fjincy  siiclri  little  bit  of  a  thing  like  me 
being  tied  for  life  to  a  tletestable  old  Bluebeard  like 
Spider.  Not  I,  indeedl"  said  the  elf,  as  she  danced 
around  the  room  aind  gayly  sang  : 

"  An  old  ma  i/an  old  man,  will  never  do  for  met  ^^         ' 


'•  -'I 


For  May  a 


id  December  can  never  agree." 


"But  Gipsjr,  my  dear,  do  you  not  know  that  we  are 
to  be  turned  but,  j|f  you  refuse?"  said  Lizzie,  in  blank 
dismay. 

"  Well,  let  us  l^  turned  out,  then.  I  will  be  turped 
out,  but  I  won't  m^ry  that  old  death's-head.  I'm  young 
and  smart,  and  able  to  earn  my  own  living,  thank  godd- 
ness!" 

"Oh,  ungrateful  girl,  will  you  see.«ne  dfe?  For, 
Gipsy,  if  I  am  deprived  now,  in  my  illness,  of  the  com- 
forts to  which  I  have  always  been  accustomed,  I  shall 
die." 

"  Oh,  no,  you  won't,  aunty.  I  don't  think  that  things 
are  as  bad  as  Guardy  makes  them  appear  ;  and,  even  if 
they  were.  Dr.  Wiseman,  ojd  wretch  as  he  is,  would  let 
)rou  remain."  y 

"No,  he  would  not,  child;  you  don't  know  the  re- 
viengeftil  disposition  of  that  man.  Oh,  Gipsy,  by  the 
momory  of  all  we  have  done  for  you,  I  beseech  you  to 
consent!" 

"Aunty,  aunty,  I  cannot ;  it  is  too  dreadful  even  tc 
think  about     Oh,  aunty,  I  cannot  tell  you  how  I  loathe, 
abhor,  £^nd  detest  that  hideous  old  sinner  !"       '     • 

"  Gipsy,  that  is  wrong— that  is  sinful.    £)r.  Wisemaa 

Jjs  a  highly  respectable  gentleman— rather  old  for  you,  it 

Is  true-^but  of  what  difference  is  a  few  years?    He  is 

rich,  aqd.  loves  you  well  enough  to  gratify  your  every 

wish.    What  more  would  you  have  ?'^ 


/> 


i<^ 


-  fi 


—  '■  1, 


■^^f: 


fl.      X,' 


$g$ 


THE. 


. '*ftn 


BIRD    caged: 

''Happiness,  aunty.    I  shpuld  be  utterly  miserable 
•with  hirai."  I 

"Nonsense,  child,  you  only  think  so.  It  !i  |iot  as  if 
you  were  qlder,  and  loved  somebody  else.  People  often 
marry  those  they  don't  care  about,  and  grow  quite  fond 
of  them  after  a  time.  Now,  I  shouldn't  te  surprisect  ii 
you  grew  quite  fond  of  Dr.  Wiseman  by  and  by  "^  '^ 
7  Gipsy  laughed  her  own  merry  laugh  a^ain  as  she 
heard  Lizzie's  words.  ^  , 

"Oh^Gipsy,  you  thoughtless  creature!  is  this  your 
aflswer  to  my  petition?"  said  Lizzie,  putting  her  h^nd- 
kerchief  .to  hereyes.  «  Leave  me.  then.  I  will  not  lone 
survive  your  ingratitude  ;  but.  mark  me,  your  name  will 
beqome  a  by- word,  far  and  near,  and  descend  to  posterity 
,  branded  with  the  disgrace  of  your  ungrateful  conduct. 
Go-leave  me!  Wliy  should  you  stay  to  witness  the 
misery  you  have  cauTed  ?"  ^ 

^       Poor  Gipsy  !  how  these  reproaches  stung  her.    She 
.started  to  her  feet,  and  began  paci/^'the  floor  rapidly, 
crying  wildly  ;     '  ,/•''. 

^  .  !•  ^^i.H^'^ven  help  me  I  I  know  not  what  to  do  !  I 
wish  f  were  dead,  sooner  than  be  branded  thus  as  an  in- 
grate!  --,... „.:^  ■■  ^" .   ^  .. 

,-^Lizzie's  sobs  alone  broke  the  stillness  of  the  room 
At  last,  unable  to  endure  them  longer,  §he  rushed  out 
and  sought  refuge  in  her  own  chamber.    As  she  entered 
she  saw  Mrs.  Gower  seated  by  the  window-a  look  of 
troupe  and  sadness  on  h'er  usually  happy,  good-patiired 

.  ^'  Oh  !  aunty,  what  shall  I  do  ?  ^Oh  I  aunty,  I  am  ffoine 
^y,  I  think  r.'  cried  Gipsy,  distressedly,  half  maddened 
by  the  sight  of  LiSszie's  tears. 

"  My  dear,  it  is  very  plain  whait  you  tost  ao.^^^^^Y^^^ 
must  marry  Dr.  Wiseman,"  said  Mrs.  Gower,  gravely. 
Oh !  aunty,  have  yog  turned  against  me,  too  ?    Then 


-'"W^: 

m 

v>,. 

V 

»rablo  " 

as  if    -     :■ 

i;- 


'••; 


I  . 


Oh!  I  wish— /WrA 


'    Ml 


^  have  no  friend  in  the  xvide  wo>Id  ' 
1  had  never  been  born  !" 

Pe.^eive,  there  IsToatratrve'cr*'',-''''  ^''  ^°» 
oH  so  is  th«  sauire  •  Mrc  A  ^'P'y.  I  «"»  geuing 

think  she  ZXe%^     mT'"°"  ?'  "'•  '•°a  '  <•<>  "ot: 
old  man  and  l-Zll-^^t     ^°'''  ">«'-«W«.«»ow  the 

.  charity  of  ,!«  cold  world  to  dbJ^o^t"'^  T"  '"• 
rafse  their  friends  from  want  do  1?         •  r*"*'''  "''  "? 

-:'a£iranrd::tF9  f ^^/o'rtsr'^:^'^, 

tude.  but  con«^t"  '""''  "  "onster.  pf  ing^ati- , 

against  m^C!i;    or"  ""T  '^^  '•ave,tarned  ' 

wedown,U!:r.i'^,rat^r^^^p- !-^^^^^ 
■whe.^'rar?/rot''"„\"^'°^-  •  '^'"  '^'"»  «*"•'»» " 


-^.VV    >A'l..-     ,   .  UL1«,»' 

BB 

1  ^^1.'  -C               f     !r          *■    ^i'            ^    Ty 

•^ 

e.*| 

tl 

^ 

•- 

*!^\'. 


J-L. 


•     tt 


asB 


7W^    ^/HD    CAGED. 


"  My  own  little  darling,  you  nJUst  not  talk  of  dying  : 
every  one  has  trouble  in  this  world^  and  you  cannonex- 
pect  to  escape !" 

^"  Yes  ;  I  know,  I  know  !  HithertOr  life  has  been  to 
me  a  fairy  dream  ;  and  now  this  terrible  awi|kening  to 
r^lity  I  Life  deemed  to  me  one  long,  golden  summer 
day ;  and  now — and  now— — **  -~r;=^,  -/^— - — -^  i_--_--__i 
"  You  are  excited,  love  ;  lie  down,  and  try  to  sleeps 
you  talk  too  much.''  j 

"  Yes,  I  know  ;  I  alveays  did  tall^  top  much  ;  but  I  do 
not  think  I  will  ever  talk  much  a^ain.  Oh,  aunty  !  I 
have  heard  of  the  heart-ache,  but  f  never  knew  whftt  it 
was  before !"  ;'  \,  -■.:■..  ■  .,  f'--  ■■  isf^  "  ■'■"-'■ 
"My  love,  you  must  not  feel  tihis  so  deeply.  How 
wild '^our  eyeis  are !  and  your  hai^ds  are  burning  hot  J 
,Do  lie  down,  and  try  to  rest."         |  ' 

**  Rest !  rest !    JShall  I  ever  fin^rest  again  V  * 

"Of  course  you  will,  my  deak    Now  what  shall  I 

tell  the  squire  is  your  decision  about  ^his  ?    I  promised 

him  to  talk  tQ-you  about  it." 

"  Oh,  aunty,  don't — don't  /    Lejave  me  alone,  and  \e^ 
me  think — I  cannot  talk  to  you  ndw  !" 

"  Shall  I  bring  you  up  ice  for  your  head,  my  dear?" 
"  No,  no ;  you  have  already  brdught  ic^or  my  heart, 
aunt]r— tlmt  is  enough."         ^^^  ■    ■  ^^^  -    - 

"You 'talk  wildly,  love;  T  am  afraid  your  mind  is 
disordered." 

"  Don't  mind  my  talk,  dear!  aunty,  I  always  was  i|' 
crazy,  elfish  changeling,  without  a  heart,  you  know. 
Nobody  minds  what  I  say.  Only  leave  me  now ;  I  will 
be  better  by  and  bjL."     •  f 

With,  a  sigh  Mrs.  Gower  Icff  the  room.  It  was 
strange  that,  loving  her  poor  little  fay  as  she  did,  she 
should  urge  her  to  this  wretched  marriage ;  but  the 
ttgnirc  had  talked  and  persHaderi  her  until  be  brought  hsr 


V 

/ 


i>M:^.) 

1  ^;  .^ 

|:' 

myfi 

^^^^tf^^ 

iP' 

^' 

t' 

i      »>''  '' 

^           ■* 

lorcx- 

V 

-■ 

■*     « 

sen  to 

^ 

ing  t9 

immeji' 

• 

'  s» 


??■■;- 7-4f 


address  and  ;  J"'  "rr  =  "'*  "■'«''  "o*  ««"  hispreia, 

_  _  "I  will  seek  Dr.  Wiseman  ;  I  will  beg,  I  will  imnlor. 
him  to  spare  me,  and  those  who  would  have  me  mi! 
«us  faul  sacrifice.  Surely  his  heart  i,  (n^t  ».de  J 
«one ;  he  cannot  resist  my  prayers !"  ■ 

the  H^r'i!'"? '"  '■'''  ■■«'""'«"  she  saw  him^de  op  to 

wtrLtdTh:"iii;^rrr'"*'^^^^^p''^''^ 

^..-a.rmat^^Slh::;.-^^ 

!«„  V* '"■°'*;."°*  "^"'"e-  followed  h«-  into  thediaw, 

wrSittu?"""':;^  *"" '° » »«<  *«  «ois  S: 

S  /   '""«'°"»  drawn  up  to  its  full  height,  her  ie. 
fett.l'^.''"''  -  "'»  «P»>-* iace^htdi: 
"Dr.  Wiseman,"  she  began.  « I  have  h^r^  «*  *k- 

US  rti'; '°''  ''"^-  '"'^"'^  "^^^  ™^'»^-  ^ 

Ve«me,I  fully  appreciate  the  honor  you  ha»e  d^  ' 

ZlTrJJ'I  V*"""""  "P  '"''«•  «ornf"ll7"  e^:; 
WiJiIe  1  must  deqline  it.     A  sillv  litrl**  o-it-i  1:1.    L    i  ''*™'' 

worthy  ,0  be  raised  to  .he  digSy  of  tfe  wif-  „?     ^^ 
.ioguished  a  gentleman  as  of  W^s^U'*!"       "°  *- 


^      f  '..1 


■■■■:.,  "/J 


W  -• 


'K'- 


hA 


_,,    -  "        ~» ^1.  *T lacunar  V 

The  doctor  ackndwiedged  the  compiimen.  by.  grave 
liile  Gipsy  continued  j  "J  "grave 

r  firimrrlian  l>«.i.  :^r . 


bow,  while  tripsy 

IWVWtv.  and  JnZ^^^J^-  y?"!'  ^""'"'  ""  ■•'d"'^''  *" 


:4\ 


P»v^  «u,.  cpos^uenUy,-^];,  -r^;;~^ 


w. 


*-f 


430 


r^^    BTRD    CAGED. 


■  \  , 


knowing  this  mamage  is  not  agreeable  to  me,  I  feel  thw 

v^t  GtL':;;^?™"  r  ^  *="""  "■  -^  "and,  a„v«m  ^:! 

-       '  ».    ^'  '"■"  ■*'"»  "^"eed  to  poverty  I" 

.„..  i^"*  *''  '  "S'"  '°  ^y  '«»»<"  do  so.    Unless 

you  become  my  wife,  I  shall  be  obliged  to  let  the  law 

in.i!I^^'^^°?°'^°"  ^*"  not  be  SO  cruel?    I  b«r~I 
^J?^®  ^f""  '°  P''«^«°'  '**'»  catastrophe  I"  ^ 

in3r  yHf^^'  ""''^  ^^^^'"'^  ^^''  ^^^^'^  '^  y°"  will  be 

,     *fThat  I  can  never  be,  Dr.  Wiseman !    I  would  not  f« 

te^fh'''~"rK''^^*^'  coosepMos:cta;j^^l 
^^at  m  the  nam^  of  heaven  can  mike  a  man  of  v^r 
•ge^wish  to  marry  a  silly  little  thing  like  me  ?"         ^ 

'  fd  JrT*  "^.  P*"^"^  mountain  sprite,"  replied  the  doc- 
toi.,  with  a  grim  smiIe~V^.7  Yeari  do  not  freL  th^ 
blood,  nor  still  the  heart  of  man  I" 

m^  hl!^°'  ^'I'  '^  you  love  me,  renounce  all  claim  upon 
^y  hand  and  save  my  guardian  from  impending  ruin  !" 
i  bat  I  can  never  do  !' 

"  Be  it  io,  then,  Dr  Wiseman.    To  you  TWill  olead 

rin«rt-    ,'"'  "?  "^  '"'"'^  <"" '  '  would  dllriUi^ 
lingermg  starvation  sooner  than  <ved  with  a  cold  hir,^.i 

»on«er  like  you  !"  exclaimed  Gipsy,  her  old  fie^sotri^ 

Itashing  from  her  eyes  and  radiatingV  f.^  "^  """' 

^^  And  will  you  see  those  you  love  die,  too  r   * 

withSl::^;/^  ""^  "  ""«  'orhr  Hashed  Gipsy.    ^ 
"  ^'^  *'"^'  ««  P^ntlv.  I  >hinir  r  u.^^  „„  ,^1;     ■ 


Si? 

.4 


A 


■) 


^^ 


THM   BIRD    QAQED,      '  ,3, 

roent  in  reserve  that  will  bend  your  hich  soiriL     Yon 
Ibye  Archie  Rivers?"  '^  n»gn  spmt.     You 

'     >    "That  is  no  business  of  yours,  Dn  Wiseman  I" 
-.^    JVp^^  no  farther  than  that  I  am  glad  of  it     Now 
Gipsy  Gower,  I  swear  by  all  the  heaven^s  conta^  uol  JL 
you  many  me,  he  shall di,  on  the  scaffold r       -"*  ^^'^^^^^ 

.«  fVhatr  gasped  Gipsy,  appalled  by  his  iow.  fearful 
tone,  even  more  than  by  his  words. 

hfj'i'*^  '^u'"^  ''  ^"'  °"^  alternative ;  marry  me,  or  Sec 
him  die  on  the  scaflfold  1"  '  •'    *^*  *"^  ««» 

Iw   ""^•„J».a'that'fe  excellent.    Are  you  going  to  hanir 
^in,Dr.  Wiseman?"  mocked  Gipsy  -       ^  /  ^ 

"Take  care,  madam  ;  don't  carry  Vdur  taunts  too  far 
--even  my  forbearance  has  its  limj^  r       """'«^^«^ 
"That's  more  than  can  be  said  of  your  manners  I"  '^ 

\  ui  •      5°*"*  sallow  visage  blanched  with  anger  •  but 
subduing  his  wrath,  he  said  :  a«&er,out, 

"I  can  accuse  him  of  the  murder  of  young  Henrv 

cumZ;';*'^  T  '"  ^y^'^-^  killed.  "^Thefefsd? 
cumstantial  evidence  against  him  strong  enoqgh  to  con 

.  Vict  hini  in  any  court  ofjustice  in  the  world  .r'  "      - 

vou  !    A^l*"'"  ^T^r  I  "^^y*  y°"  »»°'"*J  old  monster, 

b^t^er  ht^      r  ^^'■^'^  ?^  "'^  ^^'^  °^  A°^°i^«  and  hi^ 
better  ^If  who  never  told  half  such  a  li^  in  their  lives  ' 

J ,-...«  ".  '  ^J'^V"  "^^^  ^'^  P''°^«^  '^'  he  killed  him 

Listen  now,'  said  the  doctor,  while  his  repulsive  f^e  . 
hghted  up  xvith  alook  of  fiendish  exultatioS.  -LcS!  ' 
bald  Rivers  loved  ^^«^that  waS  plain  to  every  on^      ^ 

tor  the  young  sailor  was  observable  from  the  first    R^- 


:■■  f>m 


•  ■  Vl 


-i^l 


*  . 


"^ 


*3» 


■  -  v;: 


JW*   SlJtJ)    CAGBD. 


,      1 


era  was  jealous,  and  1 1„„„ 
f  n  Uttered  threats  of  ft„°       ""^  V"""  «»  prove  he  „f 
.    »^^'P»-.    On  ^^lUTTZT^'^T  '^''-t^he  m«: 
«rved  riding  from  Berfe  i„     .*  f""'*'''  ^rehie  was  oh 

afterwanl  thf  sailor  we«  for  »•'/"' "Kf-   Half  I  fa  °„^ 
"«<"■  that  Archie  Rim-s  fo»  "  "^*  ""^ '"»  "ills;    I  "a. 
°«  «  home  until  ,1^     MoT"  "J"-    ^''■'°*  he  was 
followed  Danvers    »„^  '  P''°'»hly,  therefnr.    k 

J««'ou.,  Will  Se  a"lard?r  *'■»    "^^r' 
^"«  of  justice.  maSy  mL°  "  "'°''  «»3"hin»  Ta 
proved;  a»dif  hedi5^on,h?J  »T  "»°  'his\an  h^" 
.  "Pon  your  head.';  ""  "■*  *»ff»H  hi,  blood  wiU  b^ 

<""•  »^("~&^r?:^'  "o^-'youperju^  —      ' 
o»n  nephew  ?••  '^*"'  "^o™'  'he  murtWr  rf  Cr 

.  ""derar,  foisobth  I     i.  <■.* 

'  ^'  "ft  w  ,y  •  "•"'  "^  "=»"  '^-^ 

ItellyouTw:°"^'"«»'J''^'i«*!    Doctor  W"  ' 

full  height,  defiant  and  Wni  V  ™  "'»»"'  "P  to  it, 
^h  scorn  and  h.t«d.  PoraL*"  "^^k  'ace  l^rZ 
-^V'veriogwitbii^^^'^o^n.  they  ,to,5  .^uf 


l#         - 

tiff  5*  , 


f  •''£W9W^- 


I  .. 


*«asrx,,'»i>:.;'-»-.. 


.¥!e^i  1.  *'iii 'kr 


IV 


.  THE    BIRD    CAGED. 


*¥. 


ptiXJ"'"'  "^^"^  "^  ««'  "^  ««.  with 

,«  "^°-'  ""' '«'«!"  myself;  but,  daring  girf.  listen 
to  me.     As  sure  as  yonder  heaven  is  above  us,  if  you 

ing  to  h.m  be  turned  from  their  home^o  diefif  Ihfv 
W.11 :  and  Archibald. Rivers  shall  perish  by  the  tandrf 
the  hangman,  scorned  and  hated  by  all,  and  knowing 

h^  '^.\  "'  "''°'"  *"  """'"'  "*"«  e'ven  Ws  life,  hayf 
brought  h,n.  to^he  scaffold.  Gipsy  Gower.  hi^blo^ 
wilUry  for  vengeance  from  the  earth  against  you  I" 

,™„i.'  '^^  ^'""■^  "^  "  ""*  *ril"»g.  intense  sol- 
emnity m  h.s  tone,  that  made  the  blood  cut^je.  One 
fook  a.  h,s.  fiendish  face  would  have  made  yo^  thi^fc 
Satan  himself  was  before  you.  '* 

And  Gipsy  !  She  had  dropped,  as  if  suddenly  stricken 
by  an  unseen  hand,  to  the  floor ;  her  face  changX  tS 
ghastly  hue  of  death,  the  4ight  dying  out  in  h2^«° 

t«  \^  ""  'T^l  P''"'"^  ''""y  froS  the  brue."„%er: 
.ng  lips,  from  wh.ch  no  sound  came  ;  a  thousand  4es 

me^^^f  f  '•*""^  c?»centrated.io  that  one  singU.  ta^ 
ment  of  intense  anguish.  ».«  wu 

.  But  no  spark  of  pity  entere^  the  h«irt  that  exuUed 
ILk.  .  f  "^-  ^""K^  demoniacal  joy  flashed  from'^l; 
snake-hke  eyes  as  he  beheld  that  free,  wild,  untamed 
spint  broken  at  last,  and  lying  in'anguish  at  his  f^t 

his  thought,  as  he  watched  her 
,     "Gipsy  The  called. 

'    ^^'^.^'•''^d  at  the  sound  of  hi,  voice,  g       *     '     .. 
Gipsy  r  |;^e  called  again;     .  ^  . 

A.I^1  ^IT  '**^  ^°°''^'*  "Pr  lifting  a  face  so  like  that  of 


"Whatr  shft  nsked,  iiijt  Tow,  hollow  voice  of  dfl> 


'#-.  I 


*•<-  i 


\^ 


>»i 


_4 


Spain 


V 


d       «' 


m 


«^        ^ 


«34 


^■■«^^   ^/*2)    hAGiO. 


ttghSS^?I^';^,;"P?|««'.  filing  her  wild  ey«  ^^ 
•and  the  curse  of  Heaven -Ii"    '*^'«"'an.' mar  mv  cun»  . 

ke  a  flame  io  this  lifS  «,!^         P*^  y""'  "iserable  rn^l 
■ngperteionin  then2c"°   m  "'^-''^y""  'o  «^^W 


v  ■; 


r  '>» 

rte 

1 

i 

1 

1 

™  ""  rours ;  ftnd  tipw  I  wish  vo^  / "'^xnave  done  me 
She  Bussed  from  the  roT'    f:."  ^°^  °^  J^O"*-  bride  I" 
Wi^man,  terrified  and  LZZ^       ^  *  "P*'*"''  '*  ^nd  6r 

«"'eii.„d.    S?ut"s'„t'wn,''h  "."«''•-'"•  P^ect 
chased  with  that  yoa^^m^"*/«'-'y  enough  p^? 
-  fierjr  spirit  o^.  the  oW  o~^'"''  '"'  '"  mistreT  The 

■ng  the  iron  while  ifs  hoi  Y-I,r 'V""""*  "ke  «°^ 
«o  that  old  dotart.  the  Luire  a!S  h'"  "P»"  ""y  ">c2« 
fixed  a,  «,on  as  possibla"^      ^  *""•  ""«  Wedding^y 


1      ■* 


/ 


'/ 


•    .  / 


■S-=i. 


^-  1 

'    -  /    . 

f^^^^ 

'■■'■..■-;, 

1 

* 

•>:,-:-'>^- 

MAY   AND    DECMMBBR. 


.A- 


.\  ,■ 


«3S 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

V  MAY     AND     D  E  CE  M  B  E  R  v 

"She  looked  to  the  river—looked  to  the  hill—' 
And  thought  on  the  spirit's  prophew ; 
Then  broke  the  silence  stem  aSd  still? ' 
Not  you.  but  Fate,  has  vanquished  me."' 

Lav  of  thk  Last 

■    .^,-  .      --      .  -^h  . 

lELESTE,  Celeste!  do  hot  leave  mi.    Oh » 

all   the  world  has  left  me,  and  wSu  >ou 

go,  too  ?    This  heart-this  restless,  btotinir 

heart—will  it  never  stop  aching?    Oh  C^ 

'  hv  »M«  H  1,  !••'  °"*^®'  '  '^^"S'*'  ^  ^^  no  hearth  but 
^^^.  H  '  ,^"5^"8^  P^i"  ^»»ere  it  should  be,  I  l^now 
I  must  have  had   one   some   time.    Stay  with  meTcT 

Gipsy-small,  fair  and  fragile,  with  her  litti^ 
face  and  unnaturally  lustrous  eyes-lay  moahW  r^ 
lessly  on  her  low  couch,  like  some  te^peTtrs  cd  ^ 
quivering   between   life  and  death.     Like4n  a^^^^^ 
•ght,  br  her  side  knelt  Celeste,  with  h/fair,3i4 
face  and  her  sqft   blue  eyes,  from  whiXthe  Jrs  JS 

Uear  Gipsy,  I  will  not  leave  y6u ;  but  you  know 

you  must  get  up  and  dress  soon./^  ^  ^ 

"Oh,yes;  butnot;yfet.    It  is  sb  nice  to  lie  here,  and 

have  you  beside  me.     I  am  sd  tired.  Celesie^I  h!!! 

-hever  rested  since  I  made  that  promf^.     It^^^^    ^"^J 

firf:i!ir..L'!.''^^"^^'^!?fe  ^°d  walking  onThro^A 
■Ihc  dark,  unable  to  stou.  wilh  B.mh  ,^^^^^  "il!igHgg_ 


V 


.    .    "nablP  to  stop,  wiih  such  an  aching  here.*' 
And  she  pressed  her  I«nd  to  the  poor  qui vcri«g  heart 


^v^ 


I  I 


"'I 

t    I 

^  i\ 


,    -  ■   ;,<'■.     f  ■■■■■-:  , 


tliat  was  flu«eri-n«  *  '  - 

««  n«-»*        •'^     "''  '"C  poor  liff i«  *       T  ^"/ing  droDs 
-«  ««e.  «  liquid  ;^2  .^"'"'^  «-6  in  ,  voice  low 

■"^         *^  .     ■     . 

^«er£:;T.Ji'i;g5ji^-     -: 
Gipsy  listened,  with  k«  ^      ' 
o'  P«ce  and  Vest  VJi  •             ®^®s  closed  an--,«       . 


%'rA.h2Sliri"'"',''—"i 


^  """",  nam  Wed  1'*^ 

H"rinnt,uu,uu»  trial  to  p„;^!;^ 


^  .' 


^-k" 


^in  fate 

te,  stoop- 

™g  drops 
ler.      " 

r  mjrself 
ice  low 


■», 


tssion 
until 

hap. 

eart- 

her. 

^issL 
iny- 

sied 

ear,' 


irj 


<» 


.V 


\.  AtA^   AJ\rJD    DECEMBER,.  >^.    ., 

fae^tt  abd  make  it  His  own.    In  the  time  of  youth  and  '^ 

'  of  X'n^/'r  ^^i  ""^^'•^'^^^""y  to  forget  the  Author 
HU?*^S?  1  S*^;'',**"^   yi«»<i   the  heart  that  should  be 

l^ffi.  ^^«^    f'"^     ^"V"  '^'^  ^^^  «^   sorrow  and       . 
suffering^yestretchoutou/armstoHim;  and  He  for.    »- 
^     gettingthe^ast,  takes  us  to  his   bosom.'  :Zi,tk^It        ^ 
G.psy,  shaH^we  shrink  from  treading  through  trials  and       - 
sufferings  in\the  steps  of   the   sinless  Son  of  God,  to 
t^  home  of  re^t  and  peace  that  He  died  to  gain  for       " 

x..^^""  beauti/ui  face  was  transfigured,  her  eyes  mdiant. 

way  m  the  d*rk-Hke  on*  who  is  blind.  L'.fn.ng"?  2        " 
own  doom.    I  cannot  look  up  ^  I  can  see  into  the  dai^k 
•grave;  but  no  farther."  ;  'v  •pe  oaric 

Us^Xl^^'^''''^'^''''"^    Everjclondh.. 

"Never  for  me.    But,  hark !    What  is  that  r 

Celeste  arose,  and  Went  Ito  the  n-indow. 
lAri'^i"  "**  '^"'«««','»"°8i''g;  more  people.    The  prt-.  C 
^"^17^-'""'    ^°"  "-"•'«^  «-a  dress  for  ^r. 

tireT^^r  "l^"  ^^,!^'  ""^  ''"^"  •  *»  "- 
"  Ves,  dear  Gipsy ;  they  are  waiting  for  you  I  will 
dress  you  myself."  said  Celeste,  as  Gipsy,  pale,  wan,  Tad 
spir  tuell^,  arose  from  her  couch,  her  little,  slight  figure 
smaller  and  slightei:  than  ever.  .  ^ 

Jlapidly  moved  the^  nimble  fingers  of  Celeste.    The      .v...! 
difecmg  dark  locks  fell  in  fihort,  shining  curls  alound         I' 
Jfie^uperb  litttei;id:  makiiig^he  pale  ^e^^^S^    '    * 
look  paler  still  by  contrast.    Then  Celeste  went  into  her 


A 


v-^ 


1  /.  *«. 


r 


ir^"^ 


<  "fi 


\\ 


'  V.  • 


w 


^^y  AlfD    j^ECEJiiBEI^r 


•«t  ^  ,^ . 


wardrobe  and  brought  forth  fl.-  •       . 

the  orange  WossomVand  Jhe  rich""  k'  '"•  ^''"«  ™". 

ii     iO-iJwX  quS."'  ~'"^"  «P"«1  Cele«e,  i,- 

^  ^^^A^'^,^l    H»'  -a!  £ir  she  said. 
.        »««  about  to  sacrifice  a  "LL°fjf°'-r''«  'he  anciAti 

Md  crowned  her  With  flowTrrCr°^  her  l„  wh*, 
-    other  victims,  and  w-,r  !  '  "'"  «"*«•■  from  all 

»^»  be  my  'wedding  .4  "^d  O*""'  «»'<>-   ^A 
■««",  and  returning  ^i,hTd„^'^.G-Psy,  leaving  .he 

Celeste  shrank  tock  fr,l,  •?       .  ^'^^  '*<=•• 
"•ing  likea  shuddeh      ""°  '"  ""'"o-s  hue  with  some- 

Oh,  not  JQ  black  f    ni.  r-*- 
black  for  your  wedd/n«   %wl.^' '  "y'her  color  but 

«n.inually  ever  since  J^iStySroT!  ?]?«'''«'  *«»  so      ' 

»„2"!?'  them  they  won't rnowGh.l'r"  **™  '«^»« 
reWlnda  me  tha,  after  .o-Sarf wf^^^Y'^-^'hat 
Gower-  no  longer,  &u  Mr.   tT         '"  ">«  'Mad  GiosT      • 
»J1  >  1  ha(    WiC'aJ'rtovt^^^'ho'as  Wisem^;' 
"ll.be!    Oh!«»,„viil,y"  ■PP^'PfWe   the   name 
wish  h    had  neve^  been t^rn^vtr':'  '  "«""  h™ 
"  ">  drive  a  girl  to  desperaM^Tr^H  '  *!**  h™  what  it 
am  a  little  thing  he  <^Tb^^J    "''^'"^b^nsc  I 
by  the  way,  Celeste,  his  handT.^^      '   °°""°"'-and, 
lobster-8  claw  stuck  into  Tn.        ,7'^*  ""•'"'  ■»«  of  a       - 
wh«  he  please,  wi:h  "mt '  S^eT^l'V*^*  *•  «*»  ^o 
9«'?«e..  .  ItVa  pity  to  keep  my  A^l  "2-   "^  "''''• 
,^       >  *^    '  *°*""» "ajting,  and dis-       •, 


«BW>»Bf»B»8STf> 


r-  a 

-       -dll 

N^ 

^  "*' 

^^^ 

\\^' 


7  *■ 


^ite  vail, 
hite  bro- 
thebed/ 
i  Gipsy, 
she  had 


Jste,  as- 

»e  said, 
ncie||ts 
»  whit^ 
om  aJi 

This 
^%  the 

some- 

3r  but  • 
shock 

Ma.  so 
cease  ' 
that 

ripsy 

man. 
lame 
hini 
at  it 
(e  I 
md, 
►f  av 
do^ 

3SS, 

lis- 


^ 


.7, 


-af^K    AND    DECEMBER, 


.    appoint  all  these  good  people  who  have  come  to  see  the 
*nn.     ,  ■  /  ■''• 

♦  "  Dear  Gipsy,  do  not  look  and  talk  so  wildly.  And 
pray,  t^e  oflF  that  black  dress,  and  wear  any  other  color 
you  wish.    People  w/7/ talk  so,  you  know."  ^ 

^,^^.  Let  .g^  j^l^  jjjg^^  my  dear.  They'll  only  say  it's  one 
of  Gipsy's  whims.  Besides,  it  will  shock  Spider,  which  is 
just  what  I  want.  He'll  get  a  few .  more  shocks  bef are  1} 
have  done  with  him,  I  rather  think.  Hook  my  dress. 
Celeste."  *  ' 

With  a  sigh  at  the  elf's  perversity,  Celeste  bbeyed  ; 
andwithasad  face,  watched  the  eccentric  little  bride 
shake  out  the  folds  of  her  black  robe,  and  fasten  a  dark 
crimson  belt  around  her  waist.  "'3 

"  Now,  if  I  had  a  few  poppies  or  marigolds  to  fasten 
m  my  hair,  I'd  look  bewitching  ;  as  I  haven't,  these  must 
do.  And  with  a  high.ringing  laugh,  she  twinedadark, 
purplish  passion-floweriamid  her  shining  curls.  "  Now 
for  my  rouge.  I  must  l^ok  blooming,  you  know— happy 
brides  always  should. .  Then  it  will  save  me  the  trouble 
of  blushing,  which  is  something  I  never  was  guilty  of  in 
jnyhfe.  No,  never  m'lri^  those  pearls,  Celeste;  I  fear 
Dr.  Wiseman  might  fii^d  them  brighter  than  my  eye, 
which  would  not  do  by  «!no  manner  of  means.'  There  I 
I'm  ready.    Who  ever  s^w  so  bewildering  a  bride  ?" 

She  turned  from  the  ^irror,  and  stood  before  Celeste, 
her  eyes  shining  like  stftr^  streaming  with  an  unnatur- 
ally  blazing  light,  the  pallor  of  her  face  hidden  by  the 
rouge,  the  dark  passion-flower  drooping  amid  her  curis,  " 
fit  emblem  of  herself.  There  was  an  airy,  floating  light- 
ness about  her,  as  if  she  scarcely  felt  the  ground  she 
walked  on— a  fire  and  wildness  in  her  large,  dark  eyes 
^Iteat  ma^  Celeste's  heart  ache  for  her.  Very  beautiful 
fr  snc  iooicgf|,  with  her  dark,  oriental  Iacp  ^hniA^A  )\.r  lij 
sable  locks,  the  rich,  dark  dress  falling  with  classic  ele^ 


-^M 


•      » 

—r 

i 

\ 

•: 

x ; 

,^l 


m^^y- 


'^^immambi 


IN' 

1  v 


•4b 


-'  i»l 


J>£CEirSEMi, 


<-;;■;■ 


I*' 
If-'' 


Wng  creature,  ^ith  a  l^L'/h^n^And*"'-""'"  » 
that  daring,  briElit  exterior  .      ?!  "''  J'*'-  ""<!«'• 

crushed  and  quivlrin  "  I' hh     ■*'  »"e"»hed  heart  lay 

Heap",  to  the  l^":^:^^^^,:^,:^^'^'- '-« . 

>-  «  thWe,  -d  who  Cn  etl^thf  "^  'i"™  """«"'■ 
U...oXh;^ 

caught  her  in^r  ams  and         'i"'"  "" ''Kht.  Celeste 

-  iog.  yearning,  loXSe.rf  ^    '^.VP''°  her  with  pi.y. 

f««  falling.  ^       V'  '^*^  ''"°"'  "Mch  the  teirs  v,L 

«'c^K;:Cer^'::^;i-jr'»eieel  ™o« 
relation  of  the  goblin  DaL»i'^    T\  '  ""^  •»«  '»■»"/ 

theUst  Mi„s.Krm:.r,tit«  t^M\'^^^ 
ng  up  my  arms,  and  ciyinK\l,ost°'     i- '         "l'  ""■°"'- 

l>.n  page  would  have  made  his  &^  ,  „.  /         "  ""'  «°''-       ' 

his  ordinary  mode  of  walking  ^31,  i    f  '""^''  =*'»<=* 

J-highor\„.    4:g«nf a^^^l-P/ of  "tV 

I  d  make  you  laugh     Now  A.i...    •^'     ™"y' '  thought 

eyes,    ril  go  figh^  UD  r*,^  -    l"''™  '"'»■'  •*'y y'-r 

prussic  acid  for  the  ZlrfWJ'-™^'""^  ^°»""-  ''^eps' 
reel.    IVe  felt  1^%™^;^^,- '"'^''"'S''' "^'^e  ■ 

■^■-^andbones^'^C^^g/-^^^;^      . 

|t< 

Ji:i      I 

* 


'mwjmmmmo<it.' 


V. 


■^    .. 


"^J 


ced,  as  she 
e  like  some 
h't — than  a 
yet,  under 
heart  lay 
lood,-  that 
fire.  -^ 

read  once 
J  to  death 
'they  led 
I  feel  just 
ke— why,   ■ 

so  mogk-    '~ 
>k<J,  that, 
/Celeste 
ith  pity, 
trs  were 

el  more 
» family 
'  Lay  of 
throw- 
at  gob-       ' 
'<,  since 
>f  fifty 
lought 
yyour 
keeps ' 
o£fthe  - 
never 
Why, 
seyes,      x 


-A 


/ 


'/ 


«-r  .♦. 


Oraa^oreWdding  stood  io  t'^dJorS:^"  '°  ''""• 
GiDsV  ?^  m       ■'  '.  """^  '^°"''  ^i"  hurry?     Where  & 

been  waiting  these  tv.r!  h  .^^    ^^^  P«°P  «  have 

r;.d^«t:i^'r,^--'„,.Po»-'  y6«  see  ,  a™  aii    - 

*•  Thl.ll'^':  "•""•  "•»'  "'*"=  dress—" 
.lliis  black  dress  will  do  very. well     ...,,. 
plexion  best,  which  i^  ™.i.„  7'y''»e"T-«uits  my  com- 

otherwise ;  and  k't  a  oitt    f  i  hf'  "!>"['""  ""^^  *«« 
what  she  likes  w  tho„.  1  f.h     ,    T?  '"■'''*  '^"■'  »!««    - 
Now,  aunt;,  don"  ^itn  .ot^^t^:;,",*  r't^'"^ 

the  chief  mourner  atT&„tLi^^^'  ^?" ''"''  W<>ie»ike 
>«!  Dr.  wS^;,^"""*"'^"  "  ""i"'-'    And  what 

-'^wo:^«:^^4bi<^e'^i'r'T''«^^^^ 


..*•-;     - 


'i«fc-^ 


\ 


ifv-v- 


',H 


j"',,'' 


K 


i^ 


a4a  .  .    '  !-^^y    ^i\^2?    DECEMBER,     ^  ! 

8trang€girl?    Just  to  think  of  throwing   aside   that 
beautiful  dress  that  your  guardian  paid  a  small  fortune 

"'^b^irer  ''°'""'°'^^^^''-^*  thing*  the  .worst  dress 

^  "Aunty— see  hcrel-,-you  may  have  this  'beautiful 
dress  when  you  get  married.  You're  youiSg,  and  good- 
loolting,  and  substantial,  too,  and  I  shouldn't  wonder  if 
you  had  a  proposal  one  of  these  days.  With  a  little 
letting  dowyia  thrift,  and  a  little  letting  out  in  the 
waist .'  ■  i  ■  :■■.■■?■•■  "■,$■■ 

"  Gijisy,  hush  I  ''How  can  you  go  on  with  such  non- 
sense a^^  such  a  time  ?  Miss  Pearl,  can  you  not  induce 
her  to  tkke  oflf  that  horrid  black  dress  ?" 

"  I>ink  you  had  better  let  her  wear  it,  madam.  Mfss 
GoweiJ  will  not  be  persuaded.'*v  ^  '    ^ 

■      "Well,  since  it  must  be  s|o,  then  come:    luckily' 
everybody  knows  what^n  od'd,rfiighty  thing  Gipsy  is 
^nd  therefore  will  not  be  so  much  surprised  "  '       ' 

.        "J  should  think  the  world  would  not  be  surprised  at'*' 
anything  I  would  do  since  I  have  consented  to  marry 
that>ideous  orang-outang,  that  mpckery  of  man,  that 

death  s-head,  that  'thing  of  legs  and  arms,'  that ^•• 

•/  Hush  !  hush  !  you  little  termagant  f    What  a  way  ° 
to  speak  of  the  man  you  are  going  to  promise  to  '  love 
hojior,  ai|d  obey,'"  said  the  profoundly  shocked   Mrs! 

Ixpwer..  ■  ':■.'..;  ; 

/  ^\LcvK honor,  and  obey 7  Ha,  ha,  ha! ,  Oh,  won't  1 
thbugh,  with  a  vengeance  !  Won't  I  bea  pattern  wife? 
i^ou  11  see  I  \  . 

/"  What  do  you  mean,  child  ?"       v  •^' 

/  "  Nothing,  aunty."  said  Gipsy,  with  a  strange  smile, 
J  merely  making  a  meditation.  Here  we  are  at  the  stake 
W  last,  and  there  I  perceive  Reverend  Mr.  Gbodenouirh 

irr^wlrf-^''^-^^';^^''V?V^**'^"^^°°^'''  ^"d  there,  too,  is 
in.  wa»..i_     .1  _  -^-nu^who^  as  be  will  by  ant"Bjrfind 


!■*■ 


-K'"«5!MBBIVWL9*,»»,  M«,  „,„ 


"••^Tf!"**'" 


'-■/ 


1 


.•^    — 


^^K    ^iV:Z?    DECEiM^ER. 


343 


It.  is  going  toprove  himself  inost  decidedly  a  silly  man^ 
±:.:^'Z: ^T^.^^^  y-  aregoi„^toc.4t.^a 


out 

Xo-^^j  .,„»»,  ^,ps^  VTOwer,  you  are  going  lo  create  a 
'  sen^don  mydear.  though  you^are  pretty  well  ^cus' 
-   toaied.to  that  sort  of  thing."  ^  -    ^ 

_They  Imd  reached  the  hall  by  this  time,  where  Dr 
Wiseman  Squire  Erliston,  and  a  number  of  o^her^i  stood.* 
All  stared  aghast  at  the  sable  robes- of  Gipsy 

thisj?   demanded  the  squire,  in  a,  rage.  «   "* 

"  Meanihg  of*  what,  Guardy  ?"       *        '  ^— -^  ' 

^JWhatdo   you  mean,  miss,  by  wearing  that  black 

*|  And  what  business  is  it  of  yours,  sir?"'  *     ' 

J^you  impudent  minx  !    Go  right  up  stairs  and  take 

.       .       (  \i    ■  -lift.  •.-:'T'  t^^^ 

"rwon't  do  anythtn^  of  the  kind !    There  now» 

?^^^^r4^*'  doesn't  like  me  in  this  can  let  me  alone" 
retorted  G«psy.  ,  ■  ^ 

but  Dr.  wWan  lailj  (.is  hand  »»  hi,  arm,.nd  «ad.  in 
his  mliest  toi^s  :     .\.    yf         ^^T^^-^^^^^^        ^ 

**  Never  «n^d  her,  my' ^ear  sir ;  let  her  rf:on8ult  her 
owp  taste.    I  aip  as  wifiinfe  my  bride  should  wear  blacl^ 
as  anything  else;  she  Iboks  bewitching   in  anythinjr 
Come,  fairest  lady."  ""yiumg. 

i  He  attempted  to  draw  her  arm  within  his,  but  she 

Thlfstdt  ^"'  '^^-^^^"1^^-  -^^  -  flashing  glance. 

Lni^""  j^''^"^?*^  "*y*^  if  f  ever  rests  in  yours  I 
Stand  aside,  Dn  Wiseman  jiherei^  pollution  in  the  very 
louch  of  your  hand."  ^ 

isor^"*"  '^^""''"'  little  |fairy,;why  do  you  hate^' 


t  ■"- 


v.| 


^fev 


llSBP^-^^"'*'"' 


|1« 


*V. 


a*f-        ^JfAr¥,   AJ^I>  I>£CSM7^£Jt. 


•  / 


ra«ii-.Idtespiseyoat*j<r  much  for  that,"  shcrcDli^d   hV.. 
beatitiful  lip.curiing  scornfully.        /^    .       "^*'**''  "«*^ 

^    '•^Exasperaiing  little  dare-devil  thatf  ydu  »©  f-  li-  ., 
^  ^imed,  growing  white  with  impotent  ^er^tkkecare 
that  I  do  not  make  you  repent  this  " 
.  J^oa  hideou.  oM  fright!  do  you  dare |^  threateri 

K  J!?o^  a«^  <J«re  to  pi^fbriiii  too,  if  you  do  lior  bews 

rh  J^!i^r'*u'^''*^^^^'  hovered  on  the  lip  of  ©Wwas 
checked  by  their  entrance  into  the  drawing-roontrs^h 

b^Zle^Ttt'-'T"  ^"*^^^  for^Ue^a^tl 
aijllked^?  this  singularmarriage.  All  shmnk'back 
and  looked  at  one  another,  as  their  eyes  fell  on  the  omi 

erecti  oesade  her  grim  bridegroom  ^ 

„J*^^*"7^*"<J  'he  Beast!"  "Vulcan  and  Venus  r 
Z„'Lh"^  J>ec«»ber!"  were  the  whispers  tharXnt 
round  the  room  as  they  appeared.  /^ 

Da«^^^f„!r'h!S''  ^^P^^"*^"^'^  approached,  and  thebridali 
hTjLt  h   ..        u  *'*'""''''*^  ^**^'^'-  g^'^n^'ing  uneasily  a 
hi?  Jittle  bnde,  ^ho  stood  with  her  flashing  eyes  rivLrt- 

^i^^^'^  her  lips  firml,  compressed,  .^^^^^^^ 
^he  marriage  cerwonycommfrnce^;  and  Mr  Good^ 

''Nicholas  Wiseman,  wilt  thou  have  AuromGower 
berepresenti  to  be  thy  wedded  wife,  to  have  and  tS 
far  better  for  worse,  for  richer,  fo;  poorer,  Tustekuii 
and  health,  until  death  doth  yoi  part?'  o'^M*  sickness  ^ 

«Yfe«/>as  the  reply,  loud,  clear,  and  distinct' 
Turnmg  to  the  bride  the  clergyman  demanded  ; 
"  Aurora  Grower,  urn*  »k^..  u ».,,  .    .     .ir» 


wUf  rhnii  have  NichoJaaWiBtuian 


^^^ 


fcC-^ 


V 


MAY   AND   DBCEMBMA,  ^^a^^ 

'  h^  rT""'*  ^  ^^  Jw'ful  llU8^w^,  to  Jia^iid  tb 

-  A  loud,  fierce,  passionate  **'No  r  burst  from  the  lips 
of  the  bride.  Dr.  Wiseman  saw  her  intention,  andwfts 
immediately  seized  with  a  Tiolent  fit  of  coughing.  In 
which  her  reply  was  drowned.  ^ 

The  mockery  of  a  marriage  was  over,  alid  Nicholas 
Wiseman  and  Aurora  Gower  were  solemnly  Dro- 
nounced  "man  and  wife."       ,      > 

A  mocking  smile  curled  the  lips  of  the  bride  at  the 
words,  and  she  turned  to  ^4?ceive  the  congratulations 
.  of  her  many  friends,  to  bear  all  the  hand-shaking,  and 
h«ar  herself  addressed  as  "  Mrs.  Wiseman." 

"Now,  beautiful  fairy,  you  are  my  qwn  at  last. 
You  see  fate  had  decreed  it,"  said  the  doctor,  with  a 
gnm  smile. 

"And  bitterly  shall  you  repent  that  dedree.  Doyciu 
know  what  I  was  doingr  when  I  stood  up  before  the 
clergyman  with  you  ?" 

"No,  sweet  wife."  i  ^}  -'' 

"  Well,  then,  listen.    I  was  vowing  and  consecrating 
my  whole  life  to  one  purpose— one  aim ;  and  that  is 
deadlj!  vengeance  against  you  for  what  you  have  done. 
Night  and  day,  sleeping  or  waking,  it  shall  always  oc- 
cupy my  thoughts,  and  I   will   live  now  only  for  re- 
venge.   Ha  I  I   see  I  can   make  your  saflEron  visage 
blanch  aliready.  Dr.  Wijema^.     Oh  1  you'll  find  what  a 
happy  thing  i|  i&  to  be  married.    Since  I  must  go  down, 
^  I  shall  drag  down  with  me  ail  who  have  had  part  ot 
share  m  this»  my  misery.     You,  viper,  ghoul  Chat  you 
»i  e^  have  turned  my  very  nature  into  that  of  A  fiend. 
Dr.  Wiseman,  if  I  thought,  by  any  monstrous  possibil- 
ity, you  C0UI4  ever  go  to  haavw,  I  would  take  a  dftssBF 
nndaefld***"'      — — i--.^^^^^*.- — ^ — -^— — -. —  -^-^^^*^-" 


with  you. 


my  iHni  sufXtTi^  perdition,  so<mer  than  go  thew7 


•f  MS 


•    M 


•  ■'5  ■•"'I 


,  **i 


,A\;.ir  ;<*.,. vi,'.. 


y 


4'^' 


•      ^J^CIflE's   ZOST   ZOVS. 


\ 


\ 


There  was  somethlnoi ;»  ka>  -  ■   V  •  - >_.  \  -  -  -^ — r-*^— 

"•"^  where  ,l,e  rf uge  co W  <r"^^^^^ 
never  were  sudi  wild    h?.     •      "•  ""f"  her  eyes.    Oh  i 
'  •»>  face  befo.^"   He'''cX:::S^V«'«''°:'ng  4  «ea  t        \ 
struck  coward  h^t  he  was^l^^  """  ^'  '''''«  'he  «,ul\        . 
*adly  concentfafed  jrjh!"*,^ ^''J'"  «-«  glaoce  ,f\ ' .     " 

♦*L"8;'«d  with  the  crowd  he  t^ttT-"  ^" 

oe  h,4  hrow,  and  reali^^i  how  W  »  ~",P«"P'™iop    *- 
quoted:     4.   '        .         "Powtme  were  the  words  oft    *. 

Md  Began   to  fear  that  after  s.,»  „  I       ^ 
PHrdu&Ki  «  ,  dear  prfc;    '        ""^  "'*'''«  ^"""t  WW 


V 


* 


*   ]• 


i  • 

CHAPTER  XX  V: 

ARCHIE'S  LOST  LQVK. 

Mil-   ..  .  -    W' 

-    Hadst  tfiou  been  thus  dear  to  «,«. 
^*More'tha|i  wom«n  thou  wast  to  m*_ 

f  T'?j?W»«'orstcurseonine 


'  ii  . 


V      .. 


/^. 


•  V 


•/, 


*i,         * 


^^^  • 


*-., 


?"--3v»o»r; 


rfi«  >. 


,.«ir 


1/    C 


^'^"mmmmm^m 


CfheVface^        '^ 
idijr  White, 
yes.    Ohl 

3s. seen  in 

the  souli 
glance  Qf\\_^ 

side  and  "■ 
■spiradojn     w* 

^ords  oft    ^. 

-  ^    . 


>set  was 


/ 


Ifl 


iay—  ' 
iving-  . 
t— fit 

cot- 


-«  ^ 


^ 


AJ^CffJ^'S    LOST^  LQVJ^, 


«47 


/^ 


:•    . 


of  St.  Mark's"  was  crowded-^very  one  discussing  the 

surprising  wedding  up  at  the  HalU  and  wondering  what 

Miss  Gipsy  would  do  next-^when,  as  Janjtes  says,  ••  a . 

solitary  horseman   might  have  been  seen;"  riding  al  a 

break-ngck  pace  tdwai'd  Deep  Dalp.    The  hc^use  looked 

dreary,  dask,  an^  disnial— unlightied  save  by  th?  glare^ 

from  one  window.     UriheedVpg  this,  the ."  folitaiy  border 

'      •  ^^^  "alighted,  and  giving  his  horse  to  the  care  of  the. 

«ervant,  ran  up  the  stairs  and-  unc*^rd^ionio^sly,  butst^ 

ipto  the  parlor,  where  Mfnnette  Wiseman  sat  reading 

,     alone..  All  her  father's  entreaties  and  commands  to  be 

present  At  hjs  wielding,  wer^  ^unheeded.    Shp  had  heard 

V     the.  news  of  his  aipproachin^  marriage  with  the  utmost 

coolness-ta  stare  of  surprise  from  her  bright  blaQk  eyes! 

,  Jbeing  the  only  dutvyard  emotion  it  caused*  ' 

'  '    "  Why  slibuld  I.go  to  see  .yo'^i  mvried  ? "  was  her  iih- 
>i    patiept  i^pfy  to  Tiis  s^rn ^commands.     "I  care  nothing 
.  .  .   i<it  Gippy  GoWer,  nor  she  for  me.     You  can  be  married 
;    ;^just  as  well  withojut  me.    I  won't  goJ"  ;.  ;     '  , 

.     Therefore  shia.  sat>  quietly  reading  at  home  wWi^  the' 

•  nuptial  revelry  was  at*  its  height  in  Sunset  Hall,  and 
;  Jboked,  tip,  with  an 'exflanjat^on.  of,  surprise,  to  see  our 
..     traveler  staQcTihg  before  he^.  v 

J  '  .  ."Archie r  what  in  the  wforld  brought  jfw  here ?*»  she 
exclaimed,  rising,  and  placing  a  chair  for  him  before  the 
fire.      •  -  ^.        '      -. 

;    "  Rail<ars  part  «f  the.  way,  steamer  next,  and,  finally, 
ijoy  horse,"  -   '  '  • 

*  Ti*  ^°"'^^e, absurd.  Why  have  you  come  to  Saint 
'Marl's?  No  one  wcpccted  you  here  these  three 
mohths."  -  •'    .  ,,^-;;>  \':,_\;  j ..  ^,';» 

"Know  it,  coz.  But  iVe  found  out  I  am  the  luckiest 
dog  in  creation,  and  ran  down  here  to  tell  you  and  an- 
»ther  particular  frie^^  I  haye.     T  suppose  you  have  heard 


v-II 


m 


*•-  '^  • 


-Vi 


.^r 


*9m 


of.  Uncle  John  Rivers,  my  father's  brother:.  Ves  I    Well. 

>•  \  .  ..  !>«*?.*■  ■       ■Ft  .    •  -5       -■>-..  ■ 


-  .^' 


ti 


.1.  ■.  .">'.* 


,t„»*^; 


•  / 


'"'IJX-  .' 


'4^ 


\ 


:::^ 


i«5?-'^'  t 


,       -'*»<«  fo"  months  ,.,„,  '         -V*-    V  ^ 

o-  hundred  and  fil.  ,S*  ';«"™«I  fro*  EurZ,      • 
.     •«TP«<'"^  though  hrn""^^^^^  ■■ 

Jodividual  a„^    ?       ..  '"^^  existed  sA  'A^.r       ""'  *=-    • 
you'se^  .V     1"  '*"'  weeks  after  J^  °'  '"sprop. 

.  thWi'dTLt^rf'"'^"  to  m,Vn^^Z^/--^nd  started  ■ 
fiar„pe.«^"3  "^  «ake  ^er  *frt'^^^~tde  girf  id  , 

""4  dear  cou,in   ,       '    '/  ^^-??^^i<^'*,'a. 

««s  fearJ  is  to  teS  ^'=°"8^«Ate  you     I  U, 

"1*0-  r-i^'fi*  young  lidv  of  „••,     Pf«sunie 
hearths   '•  ^'*"* '«  too  much  ^       yo"' choict"' 

knew  me  weil  l„/^'t°""''  Qnietly.     -r  ,.„„  ^ 
>*."         "'"  '^"Sh  oowrArdai-   .o-w"*?'  1°" 
"But  M-  -        r'"'"'  I  never 

S^-  «-e  -««£nte?'Si^'t:S:  ^| 
/        j       -     ...,  J^excla^med.^^^^, 


4 


\  \ 


:Sllf^, 


■\  -  r 


^^iH^" 


^M^ 


..V 


k  *■- 


1»-^  teS^f^  "  chai.,  <i„>^ed  his 
^^^^^is^ods^d  |t  like.  one.  suddenlj.  struck  bj. 


to  marry?"  J^**^'P^y**^«one^3^^^^^ 

fr«.  H-.?I    V,?®*"™^™on?t»"ous-<«/«^«ftJ/?/    Mr  wild- 

.   yofhavebeea  jesting  r  "^e,  Mmcettei  oafy -jr 

t'srl^  £'  »»■;»'■«  married  Aurom  Gow«  r     fl 

for."  """"S;  **>•  ?*'«ner  know  nor  caw' 

wa«^^^"""  '^""GipsJ^-^hewhom  I  .1- 
wm^^^         P"**-  ""■"■hearted  child  of  n«arj-. 
coronut  so base-an «« ?    aoaanotlx,!    I  will -Z^tT  . 
heve.«!    By  some  in/«rnal  plot  she  h^We^^ 


--'/ 


'Ml 


wa3r.>«  her  to  be  artful  and  ambiUour  She  h^Z.      .  j' 


ita. 


r 

if. 


;i'  * 


,:#" 

;*■; 


.*"'■ 


:/ 


'  ■•f . 


>S6 


-^^CffiE/s  /lost  love. 


^«.::r"5^s;rG"  '"^i""  'au^hsl,  „e„i,; 

.  J°'?«»nueVverhenhl  woildr^t'off""'  ".™  "^'"^ 
fore.     Nojisinse,- Archie  I     v'  *  **  '""^  "I'd  •>«• 

^verj  word  was  likA  o  \4  />? 

^groangi  ';""'"?'«=«'">  Ws  hands,  and 

wSIh 'f^'P''' '-'"«">  "e  forever     Wh«<^ 
wemtn  and  honor  to  me  horn  I     ir„,    '^'"=»''r.     wiMCare 

shomeknd  name,  beKevin J L ^? ^'"'  """""-^ "in 

.     ^paid  fv  all.    OM   Xr!  !^V"\  ^""^  "•"»  '  "-n 

%  in  this  word?  Would  .o"1,'  "-f ^''^'y '"d 
springing  fiercelv  im  L^i    u  ■  •         ^S""*".     he  added;^ 

"^ir.  5.hf.  Sn  S,e  has  wtdL"^"'  ^''  ""'•  '^™''- 
tard  lilte  that.  I  would  WoJk^  1?  "'"  "°' »■•  oWdo- 
honr."     Jr   '  """W  blow  h.s  brains  out  er^  another 

».av:^^^,*il^^«^^..ofindh,s^ 
•one.  "p  jj-  Ri!;"'?"'"<^ '"her customary  Zld 
necessity  for^^U  this  eSmt."°H  ?""  =  '^^-° 
deserted  you  for  one  whom^h-  *"'"°'*  <V«r  h*' 

only  Ibe  old  sto^r  "veTagSn  "  '""""'"^  '"''^■■'  "  «. 

*e;j^s:i?;-^w:mrtr^^^^^^^  ■"r^- "  v^ 
MroK'^h/ttrrET'-"^^^^^^^ 

dead,  and  in  her  grave  I  milhTh!  7  "i  °"  «'«''  *»» 
mother,  and  that  ./J;?-!^  fa„Lt  "i '  "■"  ""»  "''«  »f 
With  impotent  rage  "^  ^^  »°dground  his  teeth 

"  Well,  Since  it  i,  so,  and  cannot  bcl^lped.  wh.f . jhe 


7 


z*' 


SBBtaRfflsiv 


ifPPiR^w 


•'  P\ 


ARCHIE'S   LOST   LOVE, 


\ 


r  :\' 


»5* 


use  of  making  such  a  time  about  it?"  said  Minnette,  iin 

patiently,  taking  up  her  book  and.beginning  to  read. 

^Archi*  glanced  at  the  cold,  stone-like  girl  bcfdre  him 

If  hose  very  calmness  seemed  t6  madden  him  ;  then,  seiz' 

ing  his  hat, iie  rushed  from  the  room,  exclaiming; 

«  Yes,  I  will  see  her— I  will  confront  her  once  more 

accuse  her  of  her  deceit  and  selfishness,  and  th^  leave 
the  country  forever."  . " 

He  was  oiit  ofihe  house  In  an  instant;  and  in  five 
minutfes  was  galloping  madly  through  the  driving  wind 
and  Tain,  unheeded  and  unfelt,  now  toward  Mount  Sun- 
set Hall. 

The  numberless  blazing  lights  from  the  ipany  wiii- 
iows  illumined  lys  path  before  it ;  the  sound  of  revelry 
W  wafted  to  his  ears  by  the  wind,  making  him  gnash 
his  teeth  in  very  rage.      ,       '  *  ^ 

He  reached  the  mansion,  threw  the  reins  to  one'of 
the  many  servants  standing  in  the  court-yard  ;  and  alt  wet 
and  travel-stained,  pale,  wild,^  aiMi  excited  as  he  was,  he 
madehis  way  through  the  ^ftWng  crowd,  that  involun- 
tarily made  way  for  him  to  pass  ;  and 

"So  boldly  he  entered  the  Netherby  Hall,         i^  * 

Among  bridesmen,  and  kinstaen,  and  brothers  and  all. 
But  ere  he  alighted  at  Netherby  gate,  ^ 

The  bride  had  consepted— the  gjdlant  came  late.^* 

Heeding  not  the  many  curious  eyes  bent  upop  him,  still 
he  strode  on,  until  hestopd  within  the  crowded  drawinir. 
room.  . "  * 

Amid  all  that  throng  his  eye  saw  but  one  face,  beheld  , 
but  one  form.    Standing  near  the  upper  end  of  the  room 
was  Gipsy— ^V  Gipsy  once— looking  far  more  beautiful 
than  he  had  ever  seen  her  before, and  flirtipg  wi^hall her 
""ghtjjjgith  a, dashing  lieutienant--- — —   '• 


I. 


Having  gained  her  point,^  to  be  married  in  black,  she 


H'-'i 


'^1 


■J 


f  j 
1*1 


.» 


.1 .  i 


V 


■"•^ 


.■^  --' 


J 


'•'iThk-x  .    ?        ®  room,  and  kfoort  i;  >  ^    ^^^'  "®  ad- 

;«>l;;»«  up,  she  beheld  nti.^"*"''  ""■*■>'  siddS^'  . 
her  1,^  .he  ligh,  ,„  he^We  W"^*?""  ""e smile  on  • 
very  life  in  her  heart      S^^       , ''Pod  in  her  vein,  .k 

^;  '««.  l«.Whg  W  wht" 2  :?g  "^.~'-  f  J^  from 

5J0,  MVs.  Wisemin    r 
"id,  with  Bitter  sarc^^     .fr,,^""  "j?™*"'^  ■»«  ("he 

r,-,--ir.  r.t  ......    ...      „„        ,  z'  ',         '  '^'^  "'     '''''■■•  '? "    ',' '  Iffc';  '  ,    /.      ' 

iNi  i      '  /  :    ;  .   ,  ;;>^  ■ 


r^,    . 


f       -^ 


I  '-J  ^  ^  'J 


i'::l3!'^^^iMil!il^5i'iS«Se.«! 


S!B»B«asr3s«fl 


5."      „»-.V^'.iI 


^^T'iv' 


*r-" 


!*• 


A£C£r/4'ji  zg^T  ^VM 


s^im 


J       .  t  ■-,'-■  ■  ■  ■    ..  .  -         ■ 

congratulations  to  the  'happy  pair '  before  I  went.  I  was 
fool  enough,  at  one  time,  to  belieye  the  promises  you 
made  me  \  but  I  did  not  then  know  '  how  fair  an  outside 
falsehood  hath.'  Fareiyell,  Mrs.  Wiseman  !  you  and  I 
will  never  meet  again.  All  your  treachery,  all  your  de- 
ceit,  your  heartlessncss,  is  known  to  mc^  andjjvillncyer 
trouble  you  more!"        -^f-^ "      ; .    :     >^  '^^^  :^ 

He  turned,  left  the  House,  sprang' on  his  horse,  and 
^*?.  ***^!.  °^  ^'r  Mark's  ere  any  one  hlad  recovered  from 
their  astonishment  and  stupefaction  sufficifently  to  speak. 

He  heard  not,  as  he  rode  along,  the  wild,' piercing^ 
cry  of  anguish  that  broke  from  the  lips  of  tl^e  bride,  St 
she  fell  senseless  to  the  ground,    He  knew  not;  as  he 
stood  on  the  deck  of  the  steamer,  next  rooming.  bounc(^ 
fpr  "njcrrie  England,"  that.t|ie  onte  free,  wild,  mountain" 
'f"**'*^  '!^«  ooce  dariijg,  defying  Gipsy,  iky  raving  aitd, 
shrieking  in  the  wild  j^irium  of  brain  fever,  calling  al-« 
ways  m  vain  for  him  sUe'l^d  lost.    They  had  caught  the. 
young  eaglet,  and  ca^jed  it  at  last ;  but  the  free  bir4  of 
the  mount^ns  lay  wounded  and  dying  in  their  gra3^ 


.  ^M 


-^'Jl 


""  ■»■*■'■■ 


111 

'  if 


7S 


>1 


^1 


*^;l 


,» 


■w'Vi 


'54 


H 


i-ouis. 


WW 


J" 


~X 


w>  ^ 


../     :■ 


iMm'' 


1m! 

; 

m 

V 

tM*>* 

>: 

Wi 

^1 

mmU*'- 

''  M 

1^9^' 1 

>fl| 

V 


CHAPTER  XXVr. 

'  It-  f -„.n:c  d  7-i-  -">-".. 

Abrief  retrospectl.,',  't  '»»»  chapter 

',      of  her  marriairr'^f-*"^  '""S  weeks  after  th.  f..  , 

•le-".:   and  cfL?'"'^  '"^  '""''ring  tet»ll   r,"*'" 

or  sleep,  nursed  ,.    ^^^^^^^  footstep,  and  ..».?    T   *  ^^^ 

even  AuntvV         '^^  ^'""^  Ginsv  L  *^"^«  '^ack 

tended^^e'iftT;;"^^  ^  P'^^S^^^^n^e'--.^ 
^••oon,  threw  iLr-    ^''^  "*««'ion  of  her  Z  ^^^  city  ai- 

«"  their  care  I         *"'^  ^^^^^^"cs.     Lf  „  ?'f  !^^  ^^'^^^e. 
plaining  p^rrnhf^w  .  ''^'  *^°'"°  «nd  weJriS  if  ^'^  ^*» 

no  cause  to  hurry  •  L  ^J*    .®^^'d«s»  he  found  theri       "^  - 
^'  r-  "^  ^^  ^<^  Daie.  and 


^ 


.^  « 


'^'  months 
'^  chapter. 
oessary  to 

tal  night 
^ife  and 

f»ngr  rcsil 
de  back  " 
leru-not** 
cityaf- 
i  bride- 
•anding- 
«y  was 
ancom- 


LOUIS, 


^^l 


bring  Minnette  with  him,  to  reside  at  Sunset  Hall.  To 
this  the  doctor  eagerly  assented  ;  and  having,  with  sorwt 
trouble,  prevailed  upon  Minnette  to  aecbmpany  him, 
l^p  Dal^was  rented,  and  thie  doctor  and  his  daughter 
■**^e  domesticated  at  Mount  l^unset  Hal4.^ 

^^rly  nine  months  had  elapsed.     Gipsy — nov^  as 
ever,  and  more  4gFing  ani   mischievoiis^even 
*<^<>re— had  just  set  herself  j|^  work^  to  begin  ful- 
Illng  the  vow  she  had  made,  ftd  soon  succeeded  fe 
'driving  the  doctor  nearly  wild.    Though  he  had  merely 
married  her  for  her  money,  he  had,  as  time  passed  on, 
learned  to  love  her  with  a  strange,  sal 6 sh,  absorbing 
passion  ;  and  the  more  she  mocke^and  scorned,  and 
laughed  at  him,  the  more  infatuated  he  grew.    The  wil- 
' $yj\  elf  kept  her  husband  in  a  constant  state  of  panic  and 
terror,  running  into  th^  greatest  dangers  with  the  ut> 
iridst  recklqssnlH  and  often  barely  escaping  with  her 
life.    Out  all  hours  of  the  day  an(f  night,  sometimes  not 
coming  home  until  morning,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at 
that  she  kept  the  whole  household  in  alarm.    Often  after 
/  taidnight,  goiiuggt  to  search  for  h^r,  they  would  find 
her  riding  am^!^  the  rocks,  or,  having  tied  up  Mig- 
nonne,  she  would  be  (discovered  asleep  in  some  grotto  or 
cavern.    Then  her  flirting !    The    doctor   was    piadly 
jealous,  and  not  without  reason.    There  was  not  a  man 
under  thirty,  if  at  all  presentable,  but  the  reckless  girl 
had  flirted  unmercifully  with,  in  a  way  that  would  have  \ 
completely  destroyed  the  reputation  of  any^othpr  woman, 
but  whi<^  was  merely  noticed  by  the  remark  that  it  was 
"just  like  Gipsy ;"  and  her  maddest  actions  were  list- 
ened to  with  a  smile  and  a  stare  of  astonishment,  and  a 
•*  wonder  what  she'll  do'next  ?"    Popr,  half-crazed  little 
^0ipsy!    The  real  goodness  of  her  nature  was  too  ap- 
parent to  all  through  her  outward  recklessness  to  make 
them  9u8p<ieMjer  of  evil.  ^  y 


>-'  .. 


■a. 


mm 


1 


"'Hi? 


a$6 


/ 


^ 


/-  .1 


""her  /^  th/^'       '^^fje  new  fai^?^    Pl***"!!!,™- 
">  summer  k"'""*  Pmoics.  and  ."    PWien  apd  sfrf^*:. 

» '«tefuj  n^^t  ■i'"'?  """Pter  ope„^  "^^"■'"y  Won,  („, 


hind  h  ^  .""^MoPUy  to  L   r "■«  '^ 
"ot  go  out  thi3  ^''^'   .   ®^*5sayiair  "r^.  .. 


*«x  aear  GipsV  "  shl      "°  anxious,  ^^^  *  '^• 

"o' 8:0  out  this  ^i'   r^^assayioir  "r^-  .. 
>^o"'out,ridint -p^w   '^'"ff-     What  ^j  ]^^  y^  ^ouUl 

^  ^«h  it  had  h.    .  ^  ^^  ^<«^  i««t: 

,     "O^  child  rl^^^3„eckj.     r   .  ^'^ 


^:.-i'-4^A 


'^jfld,  or,  tli^ 
^%4  fqrge^^^ 


u  ;-^._«  -J 


®  ^*PiM-tqr€^ 

^t'onecj  ill, 
^  '»Mftrei 

oim, 
onehand^ 


^pp^^^^p^^ 


iV,  ^S' 


f^p/fj- 


"  -  /n*;J^•■ '-_.'' 


"-'•       .-''^      i»S7 

hL^  S"^j#'--^9r  I  <io  jeiliQy^'Hjs  destiny  is 
hanging,    if  t«^,ever  was  a  neclJ  made  for  a  rop/if^ 

j  there.     Don  t  let  JVfignonne  get  all  Aver  dust." 
.     'Gipsy,  you  will  stay?"  .  V  ^  " 

.n  m^  sta^' aiintf-aot  if  it  4ere  Dr.  Wiseman's 
^ck^msle^4  of  liis  ribs,  that  wasl,roken.    ph,  y^^ii 
would   too  ;  I'd  stay  home  then  forW    I'm  off  ^ow^ 
jX^od-bye.    If  his  worship  becomes  icUnct^  dliS^g  r^ 
|b?ence,  just  send  for  me,  and  I'll  shed  a  few  tear£  and 

,|yeythingwill  go  off  in  fashionablWLe'-     ^  ^ 
r  And,  laughing  at   »^rs.  Gower's  s&pdali^ed  face 
Gipsy  leaped  on  her  horse  and  rocje  offf    ^^^  ^^ 

^  As  she  ascended  the  hills  behind  4unt  Sunset  she 
bf^d^  opposu^  to  he?^  a  horseman  wi^  his  back  to: 
^her,  .anding  silent  and  motiomei  gazing  up<^ 

ij'rwonder  who  he  is?"  thought  GipL.    "A  hand- 
»n^e  feUow,  I  should  say.  for  fais  form  i^^^,b.    Woo 

iifw ^f";^  ?""°?  T  "=?'  '■"  J-^'  eive him  a  bin,  to 
gM  out  of  that"    And.  suit  ng  the  action  to  the  wo«U. 

Hel^^iSr^  was  still  gazing  like  on<j  cntraaced, 
He  cvideri^ly  did  not  hear  her.  *   ,  "^ 

"^iay,sirragaiii  cabled  Gip^, 

StiU  no  answer.  /«^ -»^  v 

.  "W^'Wever  you  are,"  soliloquized  GiDsv  "vouVe 
°»|h^politetore^^^^ 

Look  here,  siri;ah,  will  you  P*^     V'      ^         '   '  ^*  ^ 

I^didnotiWe.  '    \    ■  '  ' '' ' '    'm^^ -^  '  ' 

"H^>  'poa  W  honor,  that^l\lf(1dHiy^b^l  r  «ad 


IT 


'X'! 

T 


,„_V- „---_,. :; 


'  *      ' ! 


I* 


!;rfv  . 


U'  ; 


^ocr/s.      f . 


\ 


'^'■'fi:  made  a  tem«  '?'"''  '  ''*''«  "o  l^rtiE,.;/ 

you.     M»„  r  -T«^*'  "'-especially  t^.'""'^  ^ncy  for 


•^'-g  ".aj;^ ' '?-k  r  h,;e  .^ Va*S,a;." 


\ 


as8 
-    Gipsy  >-%  •  '^'  "•" 

«•-•».  aad'  Cd""' "  "'"»'  ^~»  W  be,,  .o„fc  ,,,., 
-e,*rC"'''""'"'«e<'"o.her 


•       "Ofcou„eir         ,  ^"'""""O"  to  shoot 


L...ft.;-. 


..'  ''^.a^?^!,?? 


# 


Bjf     -  •!/■■ 


*«»  eh  ?    Very 
'e  attention  to 

» took  deliber, 

s*^»"  ;  it  was 
>«•  the  bullet 

T  two  inches 

anger,  the 
pistol.    His  . 
see  no  one 

'«*•  pistol,  as 
section, 
my^iie  fire 
ai  voice,  as 

sntlj.  ^ 

^?«''prise; 
>n  to  shoot 

tely  taken 
n,  I'll  try 


►tingr  the 

however, 

-<J  nijrth, 

bat, 


'ncyfor! 
shot  as 
I  have 


\ 


zocr/s,  ,    '     .  25^ 

several  names  ;the^st  and  least  of  which  is— Mrs.  Wise- 
man.   And  yours  ?" 

"  Louis  Oranmore,  very  much  at  your  service,"  he  an- 
swered, with  a  courtly  bow., 

"  Qh  !"  Such  a  stare  as  he  got  from  those  bright  eyes 
—such  a  qy^ick  flush  of  delight  as  overspread  the  pretty 
face  beneath  him— such  a  keen  scrutiny  as  his  face  un- 
derwent at  that  moment.  He  noticed  it,  without  pre- 
tending to  do  so  ;  but  there  was  an  ill-repressed  smile  of 
amusement  hovering  about  his  finely  ^chiseled  lip..  Yejt 
it  was  evident  he  did  not  recognize  her.  1 

-       The  handsome,  impetuous  boy  had  grown  into  a  tall, 
;«legant,  princely-looking  man.     His  complexion,  dark-'- 
ened  by  foreign  suns  to  a  clear,  manly  olive,  was  shaded 
l»y  a  profusion  of  jet-black  curling  hair.     His  fine  dark 
eyes  were  bright,  clear,  almost  piercing ;  his  upper  lip 
was  Shaded  by  a  black  ,  mustache,  but  it  did  not  conceal 
its  scornful  upward  curve.     Pride  and  passion,  genius 
and  pnbending  will  were  writtfh  in  eveiy^eament  of 
that  irresistibly  handsome  face  ;  yet  theri^^^t  times  a 
,  winningji^ftness  in  it,  particularly^  when  li^^led.  .He 
still  bore  a  strong  likeness  to  his  dead  father,  save  that 
Iiouis  was  much  handsomer,      there  was   something 
grand  and  nOble  in  his  tall  yet  slight  figure,  mingled 
with  an  ease  and  grace  of  manner  that  bespdke  his  ac- 
£  quaintance  ^th  polished  society.    His  voice,  that  could 
at  times  ring  with  the  clarion  tones  of  command,  never 
addressed  a  woman  without  being  modu4ated  to  the  soft- 
-cst  and  most  musical  of  sounds.    Such  had  our  old  fa- 
vorite Louis  become— very  little  like  the  Louis  we  once 
knew,  we  must  own— very  little  like  the  guileless,  inno- 
Ijent  Louis,  this  gay  young  man  of  pleasure. 

Perhaps  something  of  all  this  was  floating  through' 
the  mind  of  Gipsy  :  for  in  spite  pf  the  admivatioa  that 


!   I 


~    ^1 


**:.* 


v"j>' 


p^^^ 

p 

^ 

.     -■«    ■       .  ■  -•  . 

s. 

I 


'        "  ^'s ;  I've  s«„  ...  /     ^  ^f  S«»«i  Half 


•^"f?.??^.  «me'^.r!!  ''«.;.'"«»4td  ,t'~94 


18  She?"  ,       ^**^^    *od  mjtu^nd  ^^    ««<«  Loui,,  ja  ^ 


^^::\ 


'-:-:  '^\ 


.>,  ■ » 


.^ 


-**f^eep,  dark  ' 
S^«I.ftave 


ZA^y'^'.  * 


x»> 


atfr 


»•    4iicl 
'•>  la  a 


liie? 


«  Fristtiy  welt,  ^aie  has  riot  bMS  very  strong  latel^. 
«  Poor  mother  !  j  And  the  squire  ?"         * 
'^IsqtMte  wlBli.'**^  /  '  r 

'*  You  resid^  ip  St.  Mart's,  I  presume  T        '  \ 

"  Why,  yes.      Nonsense,  Loiiis  !    Don't  you  knoW 

•^HallbV  N<),"rtVnbtry^ttis^thou^h^  it^s'Gips^ 
^Ow(Br,  isitnot?"|ried  Louis.  ' 

"  No,  sir.    MrirN  icholas  Wiseman,  if  you  please," 
*  said  Gipsy,' drawipg  herself  up. 

^'  My  dear  little  Gipsy,  I  am  delighted  to  meet  you 
rigairi.  How  handsome  you  have  grown  !  Allow  me  to 
embrace  my  little  playmate  ?" 

Accepting  his  Salute  with  saucy  cordiality,  Gijis^ 
turned  her  horse's  head  in  the  direction  of  the  Hall. 

"Tell  me  now,  Louis,  what  brings  you  home  so  sud- 
denly ?"  asked  Gipsy.        "*#  ,,   .'     ^.v 

••Why,  to  confess  the  truth,  J  gr^vir  tired  of  sight- 
seeing, and  begin  to  feel  homesick  for^tlje-old,  familiar 
-     faces  1  so,  wishing  to  sarorlse  you^^UfYstarted  withotit 
^sending  you  word,  and^e  I  aip^But,  Glps/,  whatever 


^         ■'^*i. possessed  ycJU  to^marrj^Wat  old  man  1" 


••  Zavt,  of  course:     People  always  ihark-y  for  I^ovfe,  you 


>i:. 


•*»"  .;-  « 


,  law^!    Gipsy,  I  know  bette/thantHit.    Why  did* 

yo^W  P**^'"  Arc|^    I  met  him  mPari?.  half  crazy; 

>  one  Would  imaginiP^  He  answered'flBbuestionft.  ration-  •  ' 


ally/ettoug^,  until  we  came  fo  ^e^  oT  you,^liPhen  he 
bui-^t  forth  iiito  a  torreht  of  invectiv<^  ag|||k  flirts  and  ^ 
deceivers  in  general,  and  then  sieized  iSSmt  and  fled 
from  the  room,  leaving  ij^e  to  conjecture^ as  best  I  might 
his  meaning.  Come,  Gipsy,  -fiwn  up,  are  you  not  the 
c»ttse  of  all  this  frenzy  P.  .  , 

/* '  Gip8t»s  f^^h)KA  grbwii  very  pale ;  her  cycslre^eient 

_: ! :: ; : !_: Z : 'k    '    * — I  m ; r 


f» 


^. 


'  /^  I 


-4  \ 


^. 


•mr- 


S!S^r' 


'^■'^■ 


W^$ 


«*Wt.f'-J..i:^^ 


WCSJf^'^" 


as  3h6  an- 


^t.  lam  wicked 
1 1  always  feel 


ril 


'**  ^  '  ■  '*      •• 
IwrllpsTllmly  c 
Ydice^** 

^^  jerfect  fi€fn^|^'.^^t',bjt?ct  ii  mentioned.   Suf- 
U  for  you  to  know  tKs^t  fatQhad  decreed  I  should  wed 
AViseqpan  j  .qo  earthly  power  coulcfct  have  prevented 
;it,  therefore  I  becamlpi$>ife."  '^  «  . 

11^   ,  **aid  they  dare*  t(&rce  you  ?"  exclaimed'Louis:  with 
^^a'kindlingfey^;.  "If W'      " 

!  'f  No,  no,  Louis  ;  ^|)iild   have  refused  if' I  would. 

Don't  mention  this  subjlt  moi-e.     See,  there  is  the  old 

haU ;  and  there  at  ,th'e  ^te  stands  Minnette  Wiseman, 

^  •;  «ry  daughter  now, you  kn^5w.    Is  she  not  a  beautiful  girl  ?" 

^  .     "Beautiful   indeed!'^  Exclaimed    Louis,  enthusi^ti- 

..  qally,  pausing  ihvoluntarily  to  gi^ze  upon  her. 

^pleqdid  indeW  looked  Minnette.  .  Her  dress  of 
;blfck  (isl?e  always  wore  black)  fluttering  in  the  morning' 
breeie^nd  confined  at  the  slender  waist  by  ^  dark  crim- 
en, beltl  Her  long/shiny  blue-black  hair  was  twined  in 
classic  braids  around  her»  superb  head.  Her  glorious 
black  eyes  were  fixed  on  the  glancing  waters  of  tHe^ay, 
and  no  June  rose  ever,  bloomed  a  mqre  brilliant  crim- 
son tha^  the  hue  of  her  cheek.  She  might  have>e. 
aft  Eastern  q«een~f or  her  beauty  was  truly  regal,  ^ii 
her  daffk,  oriental  facfe* '^    '       .  v 

there  ^as  too(  much 
too  few  womanly 

"  Oh,  M  in  net 
**?g.wp  to  where 
/"  Who  ?:'  said 
ou  Louis. 

The  next  momeii 
rusihed  in  torren 


.J. 


^4 


*■.  'i 


•   thougB  GipsjTBild  not. 


v: 


splendid   Syrian  eye ;  bi^^? 
passion  in  her  naturejAnd 
l^  ^clings.     •       .'  •       ,'% 
io's  f  on^  !"  cried  Gipsy,  rid- 

I,  breathlessly,  as  ^  qye  fell 

...    ■  ^  .,  m 

rted  convulsively ;. the  blood 
w.     SAthBdreca^niT^Ahi 


\- 


#,. 


*<..' 


V 


I<'t     ^ 


H 


,4.- 


^;i-.*. 


!'.IfsLotiis>said,Gipsy-"touisOi^ninofet    Come, 
Louis  I  come  I  Miss  Mionette..  I  am  going  iiptd the  house 
>      to  tell  them  you  hav6  come."  7^    • 

She  was  off  like  a.flash,  up  the  lawn,  dn/in  the  bouse" ' 
while  Louis  leaped -from  his  horse,  aT»a  with^coiirtlr 
y:  grace  raised  Mini^tte's  han(i  to  hisjips;   while  sb^ 
;    pressing  her  hand  to  her, heart,  that  bWt  and  throbbed  ^y '- 
though  It  would  force  its  way.  to  l/m,  strove  to  return  ^ 
his  salutation.  '  It  was  a  strange  tfafirg  to  see  ihe  cold. 
..  marble-Hke  Minnette  so  moved,- /  ^^ 

"How.  everything  has  changed  since  I  lefl home !". 
said  Loui^ ;« the  place  itselfiseems  changed,  and  you 
mori^an^lrtl,    Meft  you  a  ^ttle  girl,  thoughtful  beyond 

your  years,  and  I  return  to/find  you "      v  '    ^ 

^  -  1 "  The  most  beautiful  woman  my  eyes  ever  restedi)n  " 
he  would  havasaid,  but  ?he^  raised  her  .head,  and  s^me- 
*'**°»/n  the  expression  of  her  fac^  checked  him." 

;  Nd  marble  ev^r  was  whiter  6r  more  cold,  as  she  said  :  ' 
2  "  Ves,  all  has  changed,  and  none  more  so  than  your 
former /tfwr/fe,  Celeste."  • 

V  "'^Ah  !  little  Celeste-how  is  she  ?    I  had  forgotten  toi  •  ^ 
ask  for  hen    I  trust  she  is  well?"  -tr-   ►  ?. 

"I  presume  sb.    I  know  nothing  to  the  contrary"    - 
*•  I  remember  her  a  lovely  child ;  I  sappesi  she  is  an/  " 
i^ually  lovely  girl  ?"  said  Louis,  carelessly. 
^1  A  scorching,  scathing  glance  shot  from  the  lightning  ' 
;eyes  of  JVIinnette;    but,  without  answering  him,   she 
tuRn#:away,^^and  walked  seeadily  into  the  house. 

,"Strang^^m«0^i^ensiblegirl!"  ^id  Louis,  look- 
ing »n  siirprj^e  after  tti^ir.     "Ho^  that  flashing  glance 
;^p>inds  1^1^  of  the  Min^fttte  of  other  days  !     Have  I  said 
a?ythi^..to.offendher,  I^onder?    Heigho !  what  a  ra- 
dKvntyature^^^^  What  would  not  some 


'•-•• 


H: 


(■ 


...ff 


-M.    * 


/, 


■  ""'"r      VV^  "«  sure  •    wnat  would  not  some 
"y  ^^m^ihM^  hlm^  ^^^^        that  superb 


form  and  gibridit 


rcrtfe5^-frteij;[wr  ^ 
ice  f    Vihstl/i  tnust  not  fall  in  Tove 


'■^ 


-       V, 


Ml. 


I    f^i^'VfS^mm^mii 


Z-JX. 


'/■ 


»^4         •         ^oWis: 

ifr^U  her,  H^o^er,  ifl  ^an;  help  it.  HTe^' co^Vthat 
airy  little  mounta>^  Sj^rite,  6ipsy  !  and  now  for  my  lady 
mother!"  \  .  -^       -^ 

"€onie,  Louis,  comrf*Uhecried,  darting  in  agaiA.. 
Louis  followed  her  as  slie  leJlhe-way^  his  mother's 
chamber,  tlreii  opfehiiig  the  door,  she  usfidS^Uiim  inT 
and  clbsing  it  after  her,  immecliately  retreated!  ^^^ 
Lizzie  sayn  an  easy-chair^  a  crimson  shawf  wiippld 
around  Hei*  her  eyes  bright,  her  pale  cfieeks  fliiished  with 
expectation.  She  arose  at  His  entrance,  and  the  next 
moment  was  clasped  in  his  arms^  while  their  mutual  ex- 
clamktibnb  were :  y        \     ;  > 

;,(.  /■  -'^My  dtear.  Loiiisl"  '^^yV  - '"^■  '  .-.i^^':'"' .  -/    V-"l.J^- 
V      "My  dearest  mothei^l'*  ^ 

There  was  a  moment's  silence ;  then  Lizzie  raised 
her  head  and  surveyed  him  fropi  head  To  foot,  her  face 
sparkling  with  pride  aticfiiimtration. 

"  How  tall  you  have  grown  !  and  how  handsome  you 
are  .'—handsoine  chough  for  a  kingf,  i  think,  Louis  !"  she 
said,  delightedly.  ,    ". 

' "  Are    kiti^^    bandsohier    tHaii    dtlfe  peoplk  my 
dear  mother?"  he  said,  with  a  smile. 

"  Why,  I  suppose  so  ;  I  never  saw  one.  Yoii  are  the 
very  image  of  yout  pooir  dead  father,  too!  Dear  me! 
what  ^n  age  it  seems  sincel  we  parted  last !"  said  Lizzie, 
sinkinb  back  in  her  s6at,  ^ith  a  sigh.    ;  * 

"llmsorry  tofindyou^sb  ill,  mother/'  9^  Louisi 
ga2ing\  sadly  into  hdr  thin,  j)|!ile  face,  from  which  the 
bright  glow  wa^  fast  fadinjgp>  *'  '  ''^ 

"  Oh,  I  dm  always  wbrsf  in  the  springgthan  at  any 
other  time.  In  a  month  or^b  I  will  Jbe  quite  a  diflfer- 
ent-lbokirtgf  individual,"  said  Lizzie'  hopefully.  ,  ^ 

An  hour  parsed  away,  and  then  there  came  a  tap  a 


•1'   V 


the  door.     Louis  aroae-and  opened  i^rapd  bebeld ^y, 

"  Well,  Louis,  if  you're  done  tiiking  tb  ypur  mother 

.'  ■,  -  i .-     /    '.  .4-  " 


-."'    "I  "Tf 


■1'    '    - 


LOU  J  Si 


I    : 


*fis 


<i 


you'd  better^  come  down  and  see  Guardy.  "hc's  lust 
woke^  up,  but  he  doesn't  knoW  yet  you've  come!''  S 

bo.^d'^n  r°i  '^°'^°  !J'''''''^^^"S^  ^^^^  the  staircase  at  a 
bound  m  his  haste.  Pushing  open  the  parlor  door  he^ 
unceremoniously  entered  th^  presence  of  the  squirnjho 

stretched  upon  another,  smfking  his  pipe  with  \he  be' 

^^i^k'ind  *  '''  ''T  ^^  ^»°>^^»^*°d  tL  rest 

a  ^.^^^^^^^  entrancd^of  j|guis  he  looked  up  With  ' 
a  start   anc^^tered  sJmethlg  s^piciously  like  an 
oath  at  seemgat^H   dak^^^  ^e  suppos^ 

him  to  be— standing  fi^re  him.  IB^  '       HP«*cu 

,       "Eh?  wiio  the  deuc^rijeg  your'pardon,   sir.  sit  ^ 
down/'  said  the  squire,  staring  with  all  his  eyes!        .  '     ■ 

T  .  .^°/''Vf°'  ^"°^S»«'  ™y  dear  grandfather?"  said 
Louis,  advaifelngjwith  extended  hand.       \   -  \       ♦ 

sairi'.T'^'  •  ^""-^  *^»^ss  'ne/if  itisnotLouis^ranmoi^,♦^ 

f^ei^  .^'^'^"'"^'"^"P'  "^"^  asmuchfiaironhis 
face  as  a  chimpanzee  monkev  has  on  its^  body.     Bless"^ 
my  heart  I  this  /,  a  surprise  ^^j^j^did  yo,  get  h^e  ? 


J-h,  when  did  youtome^?" 
S.    "About  an  hotir  ago,  sir.' 


Andyouretouis?    Well,  well!     Why,  you  weren't 

three  inches  from  the  ground.  •<  and  h^re  you  come  back 
as  ta  1  ^s  a  lamp-post,  with  mustache  enough  for  a  shoe- 

vanity    as  Solomon  says.     WeH,  and  how  did^youiret 
on  with  thoseow  humbugs  you  went  off  to  see-^h?- 
What  old  Jiumbygs,  sir  ?"  v 

'"^^V/"*"  ^"'''^  """"'y  well-the  old  masters 
— — yVT  *  fla^teriaytfelf  i  have^een  th^" 


P<«c^  s*i<|j|ouis,J|ughin|pj  "but,  to  phaiige 


.y- 


"fyf. 


*.V: 


%966 


*^p*  ■ 


%h 


:*  S 


'•I' 


mstde  a  few  changes  in  this  domestic 
p^Qbmy  ot  Sunset  lIuU  during  tn'y  absence." 
V  "Why,  yes,  niy  boy-;  a,  few,  a  few  1  gipsy's  n^arried 
to  the  old  doctor,, and  didn't. want  to,  either;  but  we 
coaxed  her  round  and  took,  hier  while  she  was 'in  the 
humor,' as  Solomon  s^s."   -   -]  ; 

"  I  trust,  sir,  Gipsy  was^ot^w^i{iS^</lyprin 
old  man  ?"  said  Louis,  witha  darkening  brll^. 

^'  Pooh  !  pshaw  !  of  course  not !     Married  him  of  her 
own  free  will— ^just  lil^e  Gipsy,  always  doing  what  no^ 

'  as  Solomon  ''^ 
be  suiretogo  %■ 


i%n 


#*' 


m 


anxious  to 
mani  and 


lOmokl'' 


■J^i 


4 


m 


:■?!» 


^ 


ii' 


hipjdynnrouldexpecil^t '  wotaa>  are  like  mu 
says — want  them  to  go  oi^Rnray»  and  the 
t'other,"  said  the  squire,  uneasily,  evide 
change  the  subject.    "  Have  you  si^n  old 
his  (laughter  since  your  return?"        ,     ^* 
^  "I  have  not  seen  the  dootor,  but  his  daught 

f^e  is  a  most  beautiful  girl,"^epUed  Louis.  

*^  Bah  !  "^ll  that  glitter%-is  i  not  gold,*  as  SolioftRhi'*^ 
^  saystg'  She's  a'^roud,  sullen,  conceited  minx,  that's  vfhat 
she  is— never  Ii|ced  her.  ^nd  mind,  my  young  jacka- 
napes, you  mustn't  go  and  fall  in  love  with  her.  ^ou 
must  l^k  .(Hit  i§^  ah  -lieiress  ;  not  a  girl  like  her,  without 
II  cfiwt^lfe  bi|^  herseif^tkl  ^  ^^ 
^     '^lifaiJtesrhrthe  domr^s  rich,'*  sa^d  Louis. 

but  stln]^— infernally^hgy  !     Woii't 
^a  c<^pper  till  his  death  !"  ^^t/^""''^  «^ 

tjptl,  sir,  I  have 'no  present  intention^f  falling  .ia 
e  with  her  or  any  one  else ;  blit  if  I  had,  Minnelte 


m 


Wiseman  would  be  just  the  girl  «for  me.  She  is  hand 
some,  refined,  intellectual,  as  any  onis  can  tell  from  her 
conversation.    What  more  would  a  man  have  ?" 

"Stuff  {moonshine  !  '  Fine  ^  words  jbutter  no  par- 
snips,' as  Solomon  says.  She  wants  the  giit — the  money, 
nfty  boy.  Love  in  a  cottage  souhds  vlsry  fine,  but  come 
to  ^eul  life  and  sec  what  it  is.    Nio,  air ;  I  will  never  hcai 


^'' 


LOVE    AT   FIRST   SIGHT 


a67 


n^arried 

but  we 

s '  in  the 

^x-  i 

irry  this  , 

m  of  her 
irhat  no^    "^   ' 
>olomon  "  ,. 

* 

Hire  to  go  \' 
xioiis  to 
nan  and 

ErlS  .„;?. ^  "  •"""  8!''-«ver!  The  heir  o: 
Nn  „  ?«  •"'!  "™""'"e  must  find  an  heiress  for  a  wife/ 
No  matter  about  love,  you  know,  moDey's  the  th"n J 

wTndol'^°'T>  "■""  '"  "^r^he-doorlo^e  flies  out  oiufe     , 
Window,  as  Solomon  says>    /  5>  ^'    _/  .  W^ 


'* 


CHAPTER  XXyii.  I 

LOVE    AT  FIRST  SIGHT.  1 

-■""*■''■,..■  '.  ■  ■'  •  ^, ,  . 

'  "9'''.!^"'«n«'e  it  seemed  half  holy. 

;     *  ;fif  "«'''*«''»  from  thoughts  more  fair 

;  ^nan  our  common  jestings  are  : 

And  If  any  painter  drew  her, 
.  V      <  S^y^^^lild  paint  her.  unaware,  , 

>^  With  aHialo  round  her  hair." 

^^n^.  ^^^OK*^**  ^'^^^^  ^'  Mount  Sunset 
sincjypi-rival  of  Louis. 

_  It  had  URiTa  week  of  unremitting  storm. 

Kain,  rain,  rain,  from  morning  till  night,  and 

from  night  to  morning,  without  ceasing. 

riva^  of°r  ''^       ^'"-  "^l"^^  *°  '""**  ^^^ther ;  so  the  ar- 
I    u.     ^°"!^  ^«™^»"«d  a  secret  in  the  neighborhood 
It  IS  true,  Gipsy,  who  feared  storm  no  more  than  sun 
shine,  would  have  ridden  forth,  but  preparadlns  were" 
being  made  for  a  grand  party  at  the  man^sion  Thonor 

attst'Thr'h''.'^'  ^»^«^-«  forced  to  stay  ;t  home  °o 
S  J^^J^°*«5o"sehoW,  with  the   exception    of 


inettii,  were  pressed   into  the  business. 
^     — inUic  diniug^Toom  and  stoned^rafslnr 
and  sorted  fruit,  a/d  pickles,  and  preserves,  and  IS 


■/ 


:)Jr^.- 


a63 


LOVE    AT   FIRST   SIGHT. 


■■'.s 


x. 


"S, 


'(( 


over  dresses,  and  laces,  and  muslins,  and  flowers,  with 
unabated  zeal.  Gipsy  might  have  been  seen  flying  about 
in  calico  long-shorts  from  morning  till  night,  entering 
heart  and  soul  into  the  excitement.  Jupiter  and  Mrs. 
Gower  were  sent  to  the  city  for  "  things,"  and  the  squire 
was  continually  blowing  and  blustering  abouti  and  ovcr^ 
seeing  all  in  general. 

Minnette  was  too  indolent  to  hare  anything  to  do  with 
it,  and  so  was  left  to  herself— and  Louis.  That  young 
gentleman,  seeing  how  busy  all  were,  gravely. offered 
his  services  in  the  kitchen,  saying,  with  the  assistance  of 
Totty,  he  had  ndr^doubt  but  he,  would  learn  how  to  wash 
dishes  and  make  himself  useful  in  time.  His  offer,  how- 
ever, like  the  manuscripts  often  sent  to  publishers,  was 
"  respectfully  declined,"  and  he  and  Minnette  being  thus 
thrown  together,  became,  during  the  week  of  the  storm^ 
the  best  of  friends-^perhaps  something  more. 

Their  mornings  were  usually  spent  in  the  library,  she 
embroidering  while  he  read  aloud  poStVy — dangerous 
Occupation  for  a  young  and  handsome  man.  Then  he 
had  such  long  stories  and  anecdotes  to  tell  her,  of  his 
travels,  of  his  "  hair-breadth  escapes  by  flood  and  field ;" 
and  it  <//rf  flatter  his  vanity  a  little  to  see  the  work  drop 
unnoticed  from  her  hand,  her  cheek  flush  or  pale,  her 
breath  come  quick  and  short  at  his  words.  Their  after- 
noons were  mostly  devoted  4o— music;  she  seated 
at  the  piano  playing  and  singing  his ,  favorite  songs, 
chiefly  old  Scotch  and  German  love  ditties,  which  he 
liked  better.than  Italian  songS  or  opera  music,  in  spite 
of  bis  usually  fashionable  taste.  And  Minnette— 
wild,  passibniite  girl  that  she  was — who  can  tell  the 
tumultuous  thoughts  that  set  her  heart  throbbing  so  fast, 
or  brought  so  vivid  a  crimson  to  her  blooming  cheek,  as 

\\e.nt  over  her,  entranced— his  dark,  glossy    locks 


/'  .-; 


LOVM    AT   hR^T   SIGHtI 


love  to  her,  but  he  was  toolhorough  a  man  of  the  woHH 
not  to  perceive  that  she  loved  him,.^asonIv  one  oThir 
fiery, ., passionate  nature  can  lov..      T^««   ^  !       • 
;     giH.  who  had  all  her  „fe  C  a^.arSTSlo'X^ 
was  gentle  and  timid  a^  a  child  before  him     ArfdT!!^ 

led  her  to  believe  her  love  was  returned.    Fo'r  the^  fir« 
.me  ,n  her  life,  she  was  supremely  happy,  yield  „!  he 

■  ?a:;':ri'"'"""«""'  "->^-"S/^ii  oft 

'   Gipsy's  keen  eyes  saw  all  this,  too-saw  it  with  re^rei 
and  apprehension,  and  with  instinctive  dr«d^ 
;     '  Mmnette's  marble  heatt  had  been  chanMd  to  ouiv^r  ' 
■ng  flesh  at  last,"  was  her  soliloquy      "  She  7^:^  v 

Ladder  "a^e'lhel"'''"*^"'*''"  '''°'"«'  '-""o   UU 
maaaer  hate.    She  can  never  make  him  or  an;^  one  els« 

she  had  never  come  here.    I  wUl  ride  over  to-niehrS 

p^  h:rt^::'e"M?nn^:;re'  r  "^  ^?' « 

|e  yet  to  remedy  the  Ztl^V:^?^^  ^1^2    ' 

wrdA^'himl"'"'^  '"~^'  "«' -""• "»' of  Mi"ne«e 
must  pZenUt^  ""• ''°""'' '<*  ^'^  add  doom.    I     ' 

Too  late  I  too  late  I  Gipsv  Th«».„n  k„^  ^  i^  —  ^^^ 
U„t  can  never  be  remeJ^S  ^h:  •^^miwe-taV'^:  ' 
awakened  from  its  long  repose  at  last.'    """**"'     '» 

The  cards  nf  invitntion  ImJ  Ixieu 


¥v' 


-uod.  .any  m  ^4,^^^^^^ 


-I 
/'. 

/ 


li) 


* 


^  - 


-i 


LOVE^T   FIRSf    SIQHT, 


^4^:> 


370 


Gipsy  ordered  the  carri^  and  drove  to  Yalley  Cottage. . 
Miss^Hagar,  gra^,  grim,^hd^chaiiged,  stiff  and  up. 
right  as  ever,  sat  (as  usual)  knitting  in  the  chimney-por> 
ner.  A  perfect  bower  of  neatiiSfess^  was  th^t  little  cottage 
y-outsid^e  almost  hidden  in  its  wealth  of  vines  and  leaves- 
inside,  bright  with  «ieanliness,  and  odarifdirmis  with  fhe 
perfume  of  flowfers  that  came  drifting  in  tfe^uelitte 
white  draped  windows  and  open  door.  'And  th&  fit- 
ting by  th«  window  in  her  neat-fitting  i^tislin  %^^ss, 
bright,  sunshiny,  *n(f*  smiliitg,  sat  sweet  6elestCr  the 
"Star  of  the  Valley,"  celebi^ted.for  her  beauty  for  miles 
around.      \     \  '  /-i^'*  \        *      ' 

*  ,  "  A>i,  Miss  Hagar  !  how  d'  ye  do  ?  Pleasant  day," 
said  Cipsy,  flashing  in,aftcr;^he'rit)ld  fa^iqn.  "Celeste, 
throw  down  tTiat  sewing,  and  doffie  right  o#to  thr  aij 
with  me  ;  I  w4ntyou."  /    '  4 

"  O h  !  really,  my  dear  Gipsy,  yoii  1 
smiled  Celeste r" I  am  making  thi^c 
Widow  ^laye/,  and- must  finish  it  to- 
possibly  go."        '  *f'    . 

"  N^,  that's  just  like  yoq,-(^S^ie4<il ways  sewing, 
or  sitfWl:  up,  or  writing  lettersl,  or  ifeading  the  Testament 
to  some  poor  bid  anfortiKiate,  instead  of .  tafeing  any^,, 
pleasure  for  yd^rself..  I  declaife  ySu  ought  to  be  a  Sister^ 
of  Charity,  at  once!     But  you  sha'ii't  work"yoiirselif  to 
death  "for  any  6ne;  |p  co.me  along.    I'll;  scncf\he,61d 
lady  over;  t6-mrfrrow',  evdl-y„  dress  I  tave,i%oner  tlian^ 
want  you  to-night. 'V      *       •      ^ 

«  But  Miss  Hagar,  Gipsy :  it  )s  not>j|Sght  fof  me  to' 
Iteave  her  aloiie.    Si^e  i§  so  Idlesome  without  ijiey* 
,  ^(^No,  she's^ot.  ^VWre  glad  to  get  rid  ofhe?j  aip't 
you,  Miss  Hagar  ?/',' 


A 


:ht. 


pxciiise.,me," 
.podr  old 
M  cannot 


"  I  should  be  pt; 
should  enj6y  'he^,s( 
Btfid  Mi<t4ia 


J[*Tf 


kJ'%,  \/.. 


.•J1^. 


to  haveitier  go.    It  is  right  s\e 
the  rest  of  ti^e  youoj^^  f«lks,?' 


'   ,.    S'-m*..    ;, 


rr- — ; — is 


..t 


A' 


-V>A« 


afi 


\M^ 


\:M'- 


K.r 


■1% 


,  LOVM,    AT    FIJiST    S/OffT.^ 

>      .        -  '    A  : 

"There !  yovt  hear  that  ?  .K(»w  you  go  Mnd  iret  readv  '" 
"  But  really,  dear  Gipsy— j."  /  "^- 

'  ,.    " Now,  none  of  your  ' dear  GipS^-iflgAme!  J  #dn't 
listen  to  another  word!    Yon,  musl  com6;  that's  the 

•  whole-of  it,"  said  Gipsy,  seizing  the  W0rk,  and  throwing 
^^  It  into  a  c6rner,  and  pulling  the  laughing  Celeste  by  mraii 

force  from  the  room.  ..':    :.-\(^:-.  *     " 

;  "  But,  Gipsy,  why  are  you  so  anxious  for  ^  to  g^ 

with  you  to-night  ?"  saiid  Celeste,  when  they  had  renched  • 

her  chamber.       -         *       .      \  ^^/'     ,-. 

I      ,       "  Oh,  tecause  I  have  my  raywns  for  it,"  «^4ittle  PA 

Flynn  says.     "Now  I  #ant  you  to  look  yoUr  very  pret- 
^     Jiestto.nigbt,.Cele|e.    In  fact,  yoii  most  be  perfectly  • 

irresistible.'*^  ^     \  ■ 

'i    r..'  ^"^  ^^'^^^  y**"  ^''^  goinjto  p^ymesometrW  ' 
,<,  Gipsy  I    said  Celeste,  smiling  and  hesifgiing. 
;  "Qhi   honor  bright!     Cone,  hil%  up !     Put  on 

your  white  niuslin  ;  you  look  better  in  it  thai^  iftything 

f  Besides  being  tite  beSt  dress  I  have,"  said  Celeste"^* 

•  as  sh^ok  it  down  ;    for  the  cottage  maiden  alwayi 
dress^  with  the  utmost  plainness  and  sigiplicity. 

t'^i"  "^  ^*  "*"  °"'  and  gather  you  some  rosebuds  for  your 
X  hair/'  said  Gipsy,  as  Celeste  bej^an  to  drcss»   :  W 

'     ■  "But,  indeed,  Gipsy,  I  am  not,  accustomed  to  be  so   , 
S^ly  attired,"  said  Celeste,  anxipu,sl)r.    ,        .  . '       -^ 

|1  ;»'I>Ionsense  !  what  is  there  gay'  in  a  few  white  iose- 
buds,  rd|!ike  to  know?     You  f>5aiZ  wear^bem,*'  said   ^ 
Gipsy,  hurrying  from  the  room.  C  >ff "    ^  -     '     '• 

_  Half  ap  hour  later  and.  Celesie'stoUet  wascaihplet^. 

.-Very  lovdy  iflie  Ipoked  ili  her  Simple  white  robe,  fas?-  ' 

»"en«d  at  her  slender  waist  ^j\a  blue  ribbon,  her  ihiniiig    . 
hartr  of  pale  gold  falling  lifcaa  shower  of  sunlieht  over 

*^r  beautifullr  -»-='^  --"  -  ^     ^   •        - 


-f  I 


ij*' 


^r 


white  and  rot 


necky^ajijjl  w« 


ith  mois  roses.    Her  fair,  rosJb-tjnled  face,  with  its  deep, 

u    I      ■  i    »  My  f  ■     ^    ■     !        . ^      ■   I    • 


If: 


^t1 


■f<> 


V 

ij:-  < 


'■--n. 


_.,■;  '■'^^w^'Oi--^'^  - 


37a 


ZOF£    AT   FIRST    SIGHT. 


\ 


blue  eyes,  shaded  by  long,  sunny  ikshes  ;  her  red,  smil- 
ing lips;  her  softly  flushed  cheeks^  and  broad,  trans- 
parent forehead,  bright  with  youth,  and  goodness,  and 
loveliness ! 

"  Why,  Celeste,  you  are  radiant  to-night-^lovely,  be-'* 
witching,  angelic  !"  exclaimed  Gipsy,  gazing  upon  her 
-4h  sort  of  rapture.  ---^r-— — ^-4,.  ..-y  •  ■    \  -'\  \ — 

"Nonsense,  dear  Gipsy  !"fiaid  Celeste,  Jsmiling^ and 
blushing  even  at  the  words-6f  the  little  hoyden.  "  Are 
you,  too,  becoming  a  flatterer  ?" 

•  "Not  I;  I  would  scorn  to  be!  You  know  I  never 
flatter.  Celeste  ;  but  you  seem  to  have  received  a  baptism 
of  living  beauty  to-night." 

Celeste  very  woll  knew  Gipsy  never  flattered.  Can- 
dor was  a  part  of  the  elf'»'  nature  ;  so,  blushing  still 
more,  she  threw  a  light  shawl  over  her  shoulders,  and 
entered  the  sitting-room.  Both  girls  took  leave  of  Miss 
Hagar,  and  entered  the  carriage,  that  whirled  them  rap- 
idly in  the  direction  of  Mount  Sunset. 

"Gipsy,  I  know  you  have  some  design  in  all  this?" 
said  Celeste,  as  they  drove  along..  -    ' 

"Well;  suppose  r have?"  '        l 

"  Why,  I  shall  be  tempted  to  take  it  v.eify  hard  indeed. 
Why  have  you  brought  me  here,  Gipsy  ?'' 

"  Well,  to  meet  a  friend.    There  now  !"  v 

"Who  is  it?"  -  \     "    .  : 

"  Sha'n-t  tell  you  yet.    Here  we  ar'e  at  home."  ' 

Celeste  glanced  from  the  window,  and  saw  the  court- 
yard full  of  carriages,  the  hftU  illuminated,  an^^hrongs 
of  people  peering  in.  V'  ,  » 

^     "Is  it  possible,  Gipsy,  th^  is  a  large  pa^$y  ?'«  :, 
,  "  Ves;  just  so,  my  dear."'  .  -t,  '  -^^ 

"Oh,  Gipsy  •  it  was  too  bad  of  you  to  entratp  me  hi 
this  way  !"  say  Celeste,  repKiachfully.  .  > 


'L 


sayf 


A -i-Vv?' 


> 

'♦  „ 

.•»'*.:A  ■■-;, 

.   •* 

1       -- 

*• 

- 

'9' 

;    ■•  -, 

1.. 

J 


U  i 


LOVE  Ao-  ^msr  'sjbffn 


■^». 


.»73 

r-1i^  ^^"■^"5  ^"■■P■"^«  "'  «ore  for  yo*"    '."^^ '  ^  \ 

-1   heighbJi-  !1-      ■?  "«  .''»,°?!M.was  .alrekdjr  ai  ks 

deci^;:"!^  '  r°  '"^  "o^'^^'ro^-  produced^' 
alo"t  like  a  r'-,     '/f^'u''"'''"^  with,  jewels,  moVcd  .. 

,  '*f^«»^fe,  until  f&meMck!  i^r%ti"'  she^  ^hfc 

>     "  Look  !"|he  said,  polnAig.    .■.    ';•      >      .       ' 

■  tn:nsfix'ed'wt;K'K-'*l  '"^"f'^.^^'d  'heo-stood  like  one 
S'hl™;""'  *■"  '^*^  "''*'^''.'°  'he  glorious  virion 


I 


!»• 


ig  aguinsit  a  n,arWe  sta^ife  of 


■>  "^  -jfi-. 


/,Wm^ 


-■M 


i- 


I 


)- 


»74 


ZO VE' AT   FIRST   SIGHT. 


Hebe,  herself  a  thousand  times  lovelier,, than  thftt  ex. 
^Quisitcly  sculptured  form  and  -face.  This  wagr  his  ideal, 
•  found  at  last-«-this  the  face  Knd  figure  that  had  haunted 
his  dreams  all  hi§.life,  but  had  never  been  found  J^fdre  ; 
just  such  an  angelic  creature  he  had  striven  all  his  life 
to  produce  on  canvas,  and  always  failed.  He  stood  ino- 
tionless,  enchanted,  drinking  in  to  ihtoxicatic?n  the  be- 
wildering draught  of  her  beauty. 

"tLouis,"  said  Gipsy,,  laying  her  hand  on  his  arm.  .    ; 
He  heard  not,  tinswered  not;  he  stood  gazing  like 
one  chained  to  the  spot.  '     . 

"Loujs,"  she  said  in  a  louder  tone.      J  ■    '""■"    ; 
Still- she  was  unheeded,  ,     ■' 

"  Louis,  you  provoking  wretch  1"  she  said^  giving 
him  a  shake,.,  --       #  *  ..  -  * 

r^'Weli^"  he  said,  without  removing  his  dazzled  eyes 
ft-oflqfethe  vision  before  him.   s#  ;,       '  C 

^>;«*  What  do  you  think  of  Tiefi"   Is  she  nbt  lovely  ?" 
ftCLovely!"  he    repeated,  rousihg  himself,  from  the 
prance  into  which  he  had  fallen.     *' Gipsy,  she  is  divine., 
Do  not  praise  her  beauty  ;  no  words  can  do  it  justice." 
f,i    **  Whew  I^caught  already !     There's  love  at  firsf  sight 
\foryou."  '^''  '  "   .,  '. 

"Gipsy,  who  is  she— that  vision  0/  light—my  life- 
dream— that  I  have  fou'nd  at  last  ?" 

«  Then  you  don't  know  1^  ?    Bless  your  dear,  iimo- 
cent  heart !   that's  Celeste— your  *  Star  of  the  Vajley^* 
.you  know!"  ','  "      ••■■'?;    ^     .  ,■   ,     '  •■  ,■■:■•:■  T>- 

"Yes,  yes!  I  recognize  her  now— my  Star  of  the 
Valley,  rightly  named.  Would  she  were  mine!"  he 
adde^,  ij^  lovVer  tone. 

"Shall  I  present  y oil?" 

*'  Ddes  «l|fe  k  now  I  am  h^rmC' 

*'/ii(y;  I  didn't  tell  hei'5"#u,rd  about  it;"  "u. 

**:Tti€n  leave  me     I  will 


■  y  7 

■  if 


.1  u  .1 


j^.,r 


-:':''^'- 


'\  ,• 


,     LOVE    AT    FIRST    SIGHT,  ,7^ 

« All  right ;  that'll  save  tne sorte  trouble;  and  I  h«r 
somebody  .^verthera  singing   out   for   Mrs.  Wisem^ 
So  au  rcvdir,  and  Cupid  be  with  you  •" 

^    UD  f^;!oof 'h?^  ?^P^  ^"^"^  '*^^'  and  Louis  went 
i     up  and  stood  before  Celeste.  ilr' 

~  ma^S^*J°^'*  up  with  a  start,  to  find  the  handsomest 
man  she  had  ever  seen  in  her  life  standing  before  her 
^zing  upon  her  with  such  a  look  of  intend  admiration 

i^H^h?^"^?^!;^^''  *^^'  '^^  ^^°°^  ^^^^^  'o  her  cheek, 
and  the  white  hds  dropped  Over  the  shrinking  blue  eyes' 

Another  moment,  and.  both  her  hands  were  clasped  in 
l^^S^l^  ^  cried,  in  a  voice  that  was  low,  but  full  of 

^  me  )^'^  ■*'?''  •  ^^  •  "'""  ^i^ter  !-do  3^  not  know 
_  "Louis  !"broli  from  her  Ups,  in*  wild  Lclamation 

7.JJ^^'  ^"^""^^  sister,  your   boy-friend,   Lii?"    hortie' 
*    again. 

i.SS^'  ^''"'''  I  am^g^d  !••  she  said,  lifting  iier  cloud- ^ 
less  blue  eyes  to  his,  radiant  with  delight  1 

'  hJ''^t^''  ^'T  u^""^  """^  forgotten  me  ?    I  feircd  you 

"lJ?H    ^^''^u'  r^""^^"^  OveMier,  and  holdingjSst  th«S 

^little  hand  that  lay  imprisoned  ip  his.  A^>-^  '"« 

,   1 '!.^°T'  ^°"  '■~°^'  "°'"  '^^  ^*»<^'  he»-  heailiitterinir 
wildly  that  moment  against  k  little  goldeiiWss-A,V 
parting  gilt,  whicli  had  lain  on  her  bosomX^hose     ' 
■;  years.  .  ■  ..  ;■ '  ■  ■  ■  ■,  •  ■'     *■  _ 

'ZJ^'    f^^T  "'*""*  ^'^'^  ^°"'^^™««^-    Withdraw^^ 
^ct7:^^W^  ^'"'  **»«  ^'id'  »"  a  more  cbmposed' 

^  "^  "  When  did  you  Arrive  ?" 

■   '  "About  a  week 


A       I? 


*         t, 


ftgft     ^  yQUJd  have^one:|OTae^  yqu^ 


.'«*>. 


'.if 


-fe'J- 


'   'Jk. 


..    .   .'*.( 


376 


ZOVS    AT   J?lMST^si0Iil\ 


'^. 


^i> 


but  the  weather  was  8b  Si sagreeabie,"  be  implied,  with  a  "' 
pang  of  regret  and  rjemorse  for  his  neglect. 

"  Yes,  so  it  was^'^^said  Celeste,  sincerely;  for,  having  > 
no  morbid  self-liove  to  be  \vounded,  his,  exquse  seemed 
the  most  natiiriaVthing  in.^l^  world// r 

"4nd  how  is  my  old  f  ri^ij,  Miss  Hagar?"  Ke  asked,   * 
^drawing  her  arfti  n?v;ithia  his,  and  leading  her  toward  the 
conservatoryjiiowi^im'oSt  deserted. 
„.>*  Oh,  quite  welC  She' will  be  delighted  to  see  you." 
,;        "  May  I  go  and  see  her  to-morrow,  sweet  Celeste  ?" 

"  Certainly  you  may.     We  will  MA  be  very  glad  to 
<aeej  you,"  answered  Celeste,  delightedly.      . 
'l/     "Sheiscertainly  a  paragon  of  simplicity.    1^7o  woman 
of  the  world  Would  say  that,"  thought  Loiiis,  as  he 
glanced  at  her  eager,  happy  face. 

An- exclamation  from  Celeste  attracted  his  attentibh. 

He  looked  up.    Right  before  him  stood  Minnette,  with 

herglitterjifig  black  eyes  fixed  upf^n  them  with  a  look  so 

-/fierce,  so  flamingly  jealous,  that  he  started  back.         «      '. 

"Why,  Minnette,  what  is  the  matter  ?    Are  you  ill  ?" 

asked  Celei^te,  in  alarm.  ' 

She  wo^d  have  turned  away  without  answering ;  but 
the  dark  eye (of  Louis  was  upon  her,  and  she  replied, 
coldly:.'       «'  '..:.-_..'A'T/"r   ■-  -^ 

"  I  am  perfectly  well.     Excuse  Itie;  I  fear  I  have  ia* 
tcfru^jted  a  pleasant /«f/(?-a-/^/^." 
.      *^  And,  with  one  fierce,  scQr<?hing  glance  at  Celeste,  slllt 
*  turned,  and  hurried  away.  ^  ,  ' ;  ^ 

/;  Celeste  shuddered  ;  something  in  the  dark,  passionate 
'^iralce  of  Minnette  frightened  her.     Her  companion  per->  . 
cfeived,  it — well  he  understood   the    cause;   and    with 
matchless  tact  llddrew  her  mind  from  the  subject  to  fix 
it  on  himself.  *  , 

r     During  the  evening  he  devoted  himself  assiduoasLj  ^ 
to  CsleBta*    With  her  ho  dnuucd ;  oq  his  mu  »he  lamed' 


•m 


'ff^ 


in  th^  promenade ;  by  his  side  she  sat  h/lMe     Stanrf   ' 

Z  TA  'I'  ^^^^^^^^'  by,herselVM/n«f  siw  U  all 
and,  had  looks  pdwer  to  kill,  those ;^ming  gJnces  of 
fire  would  have  stricken  her  rival  d^ad!    ^^  ^         ^  ""^ 

visiL  wi,h  »  r""^'  ""'  ^""^S""™  fof  »  whUe^robod 
net  eL,T  h  *  'ri""^  P""'  »f  W^e  eyes.  And  Min. 
nette-m  the  calm  ligbf-of  the  stars,  she  tro<f  ud  and 

down  h^rapartnjent  until  morning  broke  over  the  hai 
;ops^h  a  wUd  anguisMt  herl^  she  had  J^^ 

■y    -'       '  •;•  "■  ■     '"   '  t    '  '■'•>■  J- 

.■■'..-■"■"",■■.■■■■/.  ■■■':-  ■-  ^ 


^      CHAPTER  XXVIIL   "' 

^.  1^     OtD,     dLD     STORY." 

Th^lfl"^®  •**'".®  ""*8*  ^'t*^  "»e  o'er  the  sea-  ^ — ^ 

Thy  soft  voice  .^  my  soul  1  Speak  I  oh,  yet  live  former  " 

;.;/■     ^  '    ^    /  -tHkmans. 

GAY  party  gathered  around  the  breakfast- 
table  at  Sunset  Hall  the  next  morning. 

There  was  Mrs.  Oranmore~fair,  fragile, 
but  still    pretty ;   then   Mrs.   Gower,  over' 
tinnc      .-,  '?"^°^/"&  the  rest  wi|h  her  large  propor- 
wUh  r         '^  ^"J^hrank   into, skeletons  Lideh^r, 

ruuiiuggouUhumio/j  There  was  Mrs.  DcK^to"  N  cholai 
Wi«,man-ouj-  own  little  Gipsy-^ai  utnaL  ail  life,  bus! 


.■-"SZ,. 


f»  , 


1*1 


5 

(^r 


fx. 


\ 

I  I 


278 


<t 


r^^  c^zz?,   ozi>  STORY r 


tlearid  gayety,  keeping  up  a  constant  fire  of  repartee  r^ 
laiighing  and  chatting  unceasingly,  poor  little  (elf  ]  to 
drown  thought. 

'  Then  there  was  Louis— ^^gay,  gallant  and  handsome- 
setting  himself  and  everybody  else  at  ease  by  his  stately 
courtesy  and  polished  manQe|^  By  his  side  sat  ojj^ 
favorite  Celesi^e;  fair  and  freliPmd  bright  as  a  rosebud, 
smiling  and  blushing  at  the  compliments  showered  upon 
her^  And  last,  there  sat  Minnette,  pale,  and  cold,  and 
silCTt,  with  the  long,  black  lashes  falling  over  hter  eyes 
tp  liide  the  dusky  fire  that  filled  them.  \ 

!    "I  wish  you  Would  stay  all  day  with  us,  Cdeste," 
sAid  Mi^s.  Oranmore.    "  I  al  ways  feel  twice  a^  wijll  when 
I  can.look  upon  your  bright  face.*   It  seems  to"  me  you  . 
must  have  drank  at  the  fountain  of  beautyiandJ^bHiith." 

"  In  that  I  agree  with  you,  madam,"  said  Louis.        ' 
•    Minnette  bit  her  iip  tilKthe  blood  started.  ^       : 

"Oh!  I  really  cannot  stay, , Mrs.  Oranmore,"  said 
Celeste,  blushing  vividly.  "  Miss  Hagar  is  always  very 
lopely  dtiring  my  absence  ;  and  besides- "  ^ 

"  You  are  engaged  to  make  gowns  and  nightcaps  for 
»11  the  old  women  of  the  parish  !    I  know  all  about  it,", 
broke  in  Gipsy^     '*  Formerly  7  used  to  be  prime  favprite 
in  St.  Mark*s  ;  but  sincfe^ur"  return  frqni  isc|rool  I  am  \ 
thjrown  aside  like  ah  pld  §lioe,  to  make  rootn  for  your 
ladyship-.      I'll   leave  it  to   the   world  in  general  if  V 
wasn't  quoted  as  an  ;oracle  on  every  occasion.    There- 
wasn't  a  baby  spanked,  nor  an  old  dress  turned  upside 
down>  but  I  was  consulted  about  it.    Now,  just  look  at 
the  difference ;  it's  Miss  Celeste  here,  and  Miss  Cdeste. 
there,  knd  Miss  Celeste  every whdjfe  ;  while  I'm  nothing  j 
but  a  poor,  dettironed,  misfortutiate  littb  wretch !    I 
wbh't  pat  up,  with  it— I  just  won^t.    I'll  leave  it  to  my 
<jimght^rin-law  over  there,  if  it  iso't  unbearable." 


'  \ 


^. 


o. 


,  >■ 


^**?- 


m 


7   *j 


~^. 


■bX-  ^ 


J 


/ 


-•'  V 


^Xi'^X 


'It- 


'*.> 


..i  .  ■ 


■i    ' 


**^TltE    OLD,    OLD    STORY,** 


)  • 


*":f' 


#79 
^hewavrEl„''''"PP°^'"»»i'' Gipsy.    "That's  just 

■    them     iihviL' '."?"''"  .^'0  Gipsy,  who  overheard/- 
:    she^„t.e'^S^tw?.^°,f  *'"«■" ''-^  ^'-  MinnettV" 

it  pSei]^-  ''^^°  k'"'  «»  W'"^'***  le'-gti.  wis- 
'fuS  T !  •  ,^     *  '^'"  '"'"'"S  his  horses  for  a 

luneral,  Lfims  could  not  have  driven  th^  slower  H. 
had  so  rtany  thhiffs  to  iA\  K., .  '  i  J  v  *''''"^T'  He 
.....1.;        /',»'"' "^"^    wild 'Vet  beailtiful  <5er. 

ct^  eyes  V.^«jf  ttl^^^  "**.  ="'">'-'  '^^^^  "'^ "     ■ 
Jisflwd  fo  ,h^^  low-toned,  eloquent  words- 

listewd  to  the  dangerous  music  of  his  voice-wifi  a 

theaEjS      'J* '^,'"r""'e  »'»»<:«  of  his  dark  eyes,  „. 
.  *  "HP*  °"  **■■  '*'r  '»«.  but  yielded  herself  un  to  hu 
ftag^^uenee  without  attiptio^'^j^r"  .^ 


•  ^'l 


\ 


11 


^«1 


»A-, 


4,    ^ 


'i^<      *i4' 


;^F, 


r    « 


,1    vVl 


aSQ 


'\THE    OLD,    OlD    STORY."  , 

.  -    They  reached  galley  Cottage  all  too  soon.     Louis 
Jianded  her  out,  and  entered  the  cottage  after  her. 

Miss  Hagar  sat  in  her  old  seat)  as  though  she  had 

never  moved  from  it.  ' 

>      "Good-morning,    de;ar  Miss  Hagar,"   said  Celest^, 

kissing  her  so  affectionately  that  Louis  inwardly  wished 

he  could  become  an  old  woman  forthwith.    ",  See — I  have 

.^Iffought  a  stranger  home  with  me." 

Louis  stood  smiling  before  her.   .She  raised  her  sol- 
emn, prophetic  gray  6yes  to  his  face,'  with  a  long,  earnest 
-  gaze.  _  '■    !-  .   '   ■  '    ■   "    ■ 

"Louis    Oranmorel"     she   exclaimed  —  "welcome 
...home !"  ■  " 

He  raised  the  withered  han^  she  extended  so  respect- 
fully to  his  lips  that  a  radiant  glance  of  gratitude  from 
the  blue  eyes  of  Celeste  rewarded  him.         ;  -.  ^ 

How'thatKiprning  slipped  away,  Louis  could  never 
tell;  but  seated,  ta^l^ing  to  Miss  Hagar;  with  <his  eyes 
fixed  on  the  rosy  fingers  of  Celeste  flying  with  redoubled 
velocity  t©  make  uj^  for 'what  was  lo^t,  he  "took  no 
npte  of  time,"  until  the  little,  clock  on  the  mantel  struck 

.  *'  By  Jove  !  so  it  is  !"  exclaimed  Loui^,  horrified  at  his 
prolonged  visit.    "  What  will  they  think  of  meat  home  ?" 
i      "$tay  and  take  dinner  with  us,"  said'  Miss  Hagar,* 
)iospita;bly.  \  ^?    ' 

H^  hesitated;  and  glanced  at  Cele^.    '         i^ 
"Pray  do,"  she  said,  lifting  he^r  sunshiny  face  withr 
an  enchanting  smile.     '^ 

Inwardly  rejojcing,  he  consented  ;  and  the  long  sum- 
mer afternoon  vadi^hed  as  the  morning  had  done^^-un- 
"noticed.  ,  :  '>    4 

,   "I  fear  your  cottage  is  enchanted.  Miss  Hagar,"  he 
said,  laughingly,  as  he  at  last  arose  to  go ;  "I  find  it 


OLD,  CLP  story: 


some  magnet 
their  wiJl." 


concealed  that  keeps  peo- 

■'  ■  A 

rite 

condescended  to  accept, 
to   the   door.     As   they 


perh 
pie  her 

Miss  Ha^ar  smiled  gooil-hurnoredly,  and  invited 
him  to  repeat  his  visit-an  inmation,  it  b  unLeJsary 
to  say,  the  you^g  gentleman— -^-^ -•"•  -  ' 

Celeste  accompanied   him 
passed  out,  he  said  : 

"On  this  very  spot  we partU  years  ago.    Do  you  re 

member  that  parting.  Celeste  ?"  /""  ^c 

^  Yes,"  she  said,  softly,  Vhiie  her  fair  face  grew  crim, 

son  as  she  remembered  how  wildly  she  had  wept  and 

clupg  to  his  neck  then.  ^v  !: : 

slijw/^*"^  "^^^^  was  passing  in  her  mind,  and  smiled  ■ 

"  YourfareweU  gift,  that  shining  ring  of  gold.  1  have 
'  kept  ever  since,  ds  a  talisman  figainst  all  evil,"  he  said 
with  a  slight  twinge  of  conscience  as  he  remembered 
where  It  was-at  the  bottom  of  on^of  bis  trunks,  with 
some  scores  of  other  tresses,  severed  from  other  fiir 
Heads,  their  owners  long  since  forgotten. 

c«„"^..*°^/!2'*,  ^°"  ^^^  npt  forget  me^uringyour'ab- 
5cnse,'said  Celest|,  feeling  very  much  confused,  and 
not  knowing  very  well  What  sli6  was  expected  to  reply. 
h.h  ^°*^^  y°"' Celbste  ^    Wh^could  eyerdosoaf^er  3 
beholding  you  once  ?"    Then,  .seeing  how  painfully  she 

•^^onH"!.     ?''"'' ^^"^    '"''""^    ^^    away,    saying: 

Good-bye,- fairest.Celeste  I  When  shku  we  meet  again  ^ 

.  -  Iknownot.     Next  Sunday,  at  church,  perhk^s."- 

Q.O       V   .     °,^r^  ^*'^'^°  ^°"S^  w»'^o«<'  seeing  my  fair 

^esteV         ^^\    "^^    '    "^^   IJ^^^, 

"  Yes,  if  ^ou  will  bring  Gipsy "  -         ►  ^ 

^^Qh,  never  mind  Gipsy!    She  wilftnost'prnh^h^j^ 


ris  and  far  away'  long  before  I  open  my 
eyes  on  this  mortal  life  in  the  morning.    Therefore,  tcK 


■  \- . 


_AA 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


/ 


r: 


s..   ^ 


1.0  ^lam 

S  lis   120 


V* 


*;■'. 


.Sciences 
CcrparaBori 


as  WBT  MMM  STMIT 

wnsnifiji.Y.  I4SM 

(716)t7a-4S03 


v; 


A. 


4^ 


^. 


•^'fS-  \  I 


X- 


.^ 


4^ 


/ 


—jSi- 


^  f  •■•■%■  • 


:-«*U. 


ra: 


4 


i 


ftSa 


"  Tw:^  c>zz>,   C7ZZ?  sroRYr 


n^ow  willli^hold  me^nce  more  by  the  side  of  my 

AndWing  lightly,  he  sprang  into  the  saddle  and 
gallc^ped  off.  followed  by  Celeste's  eyes  until  he  was  out 

H,.lT'*^S^''*'"'"^7''!  ^^"^"Sr  when  he  reached  "^Sunset 
enanted,  save  by  a  slender,  black-robed  figure,  seated  by 

^T^^^'^'T'^T'^^''"''^'^^'  It  was  Mi„„ette 
-her  whue  hands  clasped  tightly  together,  and  resting 
on  the  window-sill,  her  forehead  leaned  upon  them,  he? 
long  black  ha  r  falling  in  disorder  over her%hourd";s 
si^htoft^i^f  remorse  shot  through  Eis  heart  at  the 
s^ht  of  that  despairing  figure.  He  went  over  and  laid 
his  hand  gently  on  her  arm.  '  ^/ 

."  Minnette !"  he  said,  softly. 

dea^hlnH  ^T^  °^  'Y-  '^^^^  ""^  ^'  '^«  ^ouch  of  that 

hafr^onf'     .'J'k"'^  "P'  ''^"^'  «'"S'°S  back  her  long 
hair,  confronted  him,  with  such  n  white,  haggafd  face 

such  wild,  despairing  eyes,  that  involuntkril/L  started 

8ink1!;t  T°f  ^*^  ''  ^'^^^  ^''  ^'■^'P'  ^''h  *  bitter  cry.  and 
smking    back  into  a  seat,  covered  her  face  wUh  her 

askl7i?r«iH!'  T  ^°"  i" ^    ^^"'  *^  'be  matter?"  he 
asked,  afraid  to  ^cc^pt  the  answer  that  his  own  ^eart 

ask^r^J^H^'r.,'^""^^^  ^'""^^^r.     "Oh.you'may 
ask  !     You  do  not  k^oV.     You  were  not  by  my  side  from 

m  un.fl  th-  7'''  r'"P^""«  y^"--  -'ly  worLln^o  my 
ear.  until  this  fair,  this  angelic.  Celeste  came  !     You  do 

un  il  ZL*^^'  "  '^  "^^''^^  ^  ^°^<^'  loveless  lif,^ 
until  somm^t  came  and  won  all  the  wealth  of  Iov«  that    ' 


t'. 


A    . 


'.sHdiscover  first  you  .i^",  „,^"  donot  k„o„  ,,t^, ;, 

book  ?r  Did  you  L  strikeThe  rock  J,°rh7""  ""  °P«? 
ful  wan^  than  that  of  Moses  a„HH-^  *  "•°''*  P""*"-- 
Jife  andllove  sprwgtonhlt.T  "^  ""'  *"  "^«  ""o-l  of 
-id  in  ^  man?  „oVs?  •  I  o'v^e  "r"'-'^ '  yoft-ev^ 
care  not  to  commit  yourself    h,».     ,^^-^?-y°^  took 

every  glince  of  your  eye  yesH'"."°":'*d  "  '» 
-Sif  love  jme,  under  tWs  fa^^  ?^  "  ''^°"  *"'•  7°" 
a"«eV  as  I  heard  youtnt^^lrrP'-'!':^ . '  «W 


angel,'  as 
first  new 


I  heurd  you  call  h  r-clme  and^i^f '  "'T 
face,  I  was  cast  asid,  J  H,  ^'  '"■■  ">e 
easy  a  conLest  for  thiTmoder!  «  worthies^  „„  tio 
little  hypoLte-for  Her^°„tl*T  T" '°''-  ""i'  artful 
yellow  haiLthe  hin Th^  ,  "'''■  ''*'"'""e  eyes,  and 
more  than  Le  can  e^r  do  f  ^  ^'T*,'"  ""•"'='"<'  'i'-es 
I  tell  you  L  beware  I  °'  '."If  ""Pied  under  foot !  But 
'tisre^'asSrouore^'Jir^  if  I  am  a 

tear  and  re^d  in  p^e^es  ■aU^h^"'  "^  <=''"d'«'od,  I  can 
misery."       "  P"*"  ""  """se  who  will  cause  my 

^^i^  ';Z^T''\'-''^  >- fierce 

dark  purple  H'  o»ei°er 'cheek   ?«'"''''  T«  '"<' 
Waging;  her  Sips,  white    h.I    -^t' '""  '^^  flaming, 

--'""Mii^:^^^^^^^^ 

.         ***«nette-^^ar  Minnette  r— llkA  „  *    '    • 

w.ton.a,ord.feuo,,„';L»d^'';:.'p^r..ri'J: 


. -■'-,'-!I J 


''*T*^•- 


rr: 


^  •■? 


a84 


'*TIf£    OLD,    OLD    STORVr 


mistaken.  I  never  loved  you  as  you  fancy ;  I  admired 
your  beauty.  I  might  iiave  loved  you,  but  I  well  knew 
the  fierce,  jealous  nature  that  lay  smoldering  in  your 
heart,  under  the  living  coals  of  your  passions.  Minnette, 
the  woman  I  love  must  be  gentle  and  womanly{  ior  that 
means  all ;  the  fawa^  not  the  lioness,  suits  me.  ^  £x- 

'tremeS  meet,  they  say  ;  and  my  own  nature  is  too  hot, 
passionate,  and  fiery,  ever  to  mate  with  a  spirit  like  to 
itself.  In  Celeste,  geiitle,  tender,  and  dove-like*— sit 
still,  Minnette,  you  mtfst  hear ^ me  out."  He  held  her 
down,  writhing  in  angUish,  by  tlie  force  of  his  stronger 

"will^  /'In  her,  I  say,  I  find  all  that  I  would  ask  of  a , 
woman.  Therefore  my  heart  vVas  draWn  toward  her. 
Had  I  found  the  same  qualities  in  you,  I  would  have 
loved  you,  instead  of  her.  And  now,  dear  Minnette,  tor- 
give  me  if  I  have  occasioned  you  pain;  but  for  yjour 
own  peace  of  mind,  it  was  necessary  th|M^hould  tell 
you  this."  - .  ~     ■    .        "^^^Kf 

She  was  quivering,,  writhing  in  ^itttefase  anguish, 
crQuching  in  her  seat  in  a  strange,  distorted  attitude  of 
utter  despair.  His  eyes  were  full  of  deep  pity  as  he 
gazed  upon  her.  t,/*  . 

"Minnette,  do  you  forgive^ime?"  he  said,  coming 
over  and  trying  to  raise  her  hea4J 

"  Oh,  leave  me — leave  me  !"  was  her  reply,  in  a  voice 
so  full  of  intense  suffering  that  he  started. 

*        "  Only  say  you  forgive  me." 

,  "Never!  May  God  never  forgive  me  if  I  do  !"  she 
cried,  with  such  appalling  fierceness  that  he  quailed  be- 
fore her.  "  Leave  me,  I  tel^  you  !"  she  cried,  sUmping 
her  foot,  "  leave  me  before  I  go  mad  !"  ^ 

4'  He  quitted  the  room  :  and  Minnette  was  alone,  with 
her  own  uncontrolled  passions  for  9ompany.  Th«  agpny 
0^  ages  seemed  to  be  concentrated  into  those%noments ; 


•1f     1 


T  .--*»'' 


« rjy^    C>ZA    OZD    STOR  K."     *        285 

every  fiber  of ^  her  heart  seertied  tearing  from  its  place, 
^nd  lay  qtftvenng  a^d  bleeding;  in  her  bosom. 


Weeks  passed.    Day  after  day  found  Louis  at  Vai: 
ey  Cottage,  reading  and  talking,  or  walking  with  Ce- 
leste.     And  she-there  was   no   mistaking  that    quick 
flushing,  that  involuntary  smile,  that  sudden  brighteninir 
of  the  eye.  at  the  sound  of  his  footstep  or  the  lones  of 
his  voice.  ^  Yes,  the  Star  of  the  Valley  was  wooed  and 
won.    And  all  this  time  Minnette  sat  in  her  mn  room 
alone  wrapped  in  her  own  gloomy  thbughtsas  in  a  man ' 
tie—the  same  cold,  impassible  Minnette  as  ever     Yet 
there  was  a  lurid Tightning.  a  blazing  fire,  at  times,  in 
her  eye,  that  might  ha^ve  startled  any  pne  had  it  been 
seen.  u^u 

One  bright  moonlight  night  in  July  Louis  and  Ce- 
leste  were  wandering  slowly  along  the  rocky  path  lead- 
ing to  the  cottage.  Even  in  the  moonlight  could  be  seen 
he  bright  flush  that  o^erspr^id  her  fair  face,  as  she  lis- 
tened,  with  drooping  head  and  downcast  eyes,  to  his  low 
love-toned  words.     •  .  ' 

♦♦And  so  you  love  me,  my  sweet  Celeste,  better  than 
all  the  world  ?"  he  asked  softly.      -  "«^  «^n 

breathed  ^^^  *  ^  ^**  ^^^  answer,  almost  involuntafilj^ 
'•And'you  will  be  my  wife,  Celeste?"  ^.  ,         , 

"  ?^  ^?^}^  •     ^"o^  g»'andfather  will  never  consent. *' 
And  If  he  doe^ot,  what  matter?"  cried  Louis  im- 
petuously.   "Iaiiimyownitaaster,andcapmarrvwhom    ' 
I  please.",      v/.-       .    ,  .- v     ,,  ^^\f         ' 

"  Louis— Louis !   do  not  talk  so.    I  >^ould    never 
marry  you  against  his  will." 

"  You  would  not  ?">  *        • 


«»s*_::~.--  ~'-- 


>  1 


886 


TB^JS    OLD, 


•  f 


■Aji-' 


"  No,  certainly  not.     It  would  be  wrbng,  you  kno^"j 
;     "  Wrong  1     How  woiild  it  be  wrong,  Celeste  ?    I  am 
sure  my  mother  would  not  object ;  and  as  for  him,  what 
^right  has  he  to  interfere  with  my  marriage?" 

"  Oh,  Louis  !  you  know  he  has  a  guardian's  ri^ht— a? 
parent's  right — to  interfere.    Besides,"  she  added; .blush-^ 
ing,   "we  are  both  too  young  to  be  married.v  Timllf 
enough  these  seven  years."  \     ■".' 

"Seven  years  !"  echoed  Louis,  laughing  ;  "  wRy,  that 
would-be  as i)ad  as  Jacob  arid— Rachel.  Wasrt't  that 
ttue  name  ?  jCome,  my  dear  Celeste,  be  reasonable.  I 
canriot  wait  seven  years,  though  very  likely  you  could,  v 
During  all  those  long  yeara  of  absence  the  remembrance 
of  you  has  cheered  my  loneliest  hours.  I  looked  for- 
/ard  impatiently  to  the  time  when  I  might  return  and 
^ee  my  Star  of  the  Valley  again.  And  now  that  I 
/have  come,  you  tell  me  t6  wait  seven  years  !  Say,  Ce-  ' 
/  leste,  may  I  ^ot  ask  my  grandfather — and  if  he  con- 
sents, will  you. not  be  mine?"  '^ 

"I  don't  knpw— I'll  think  about  it,"  said  Celeste,  tim- 
idly. '- 

"And  I  know  how  that  thinking  will  end.     Here  we 
are  at  the  cottage.     Good-night,  my  little  white  dove! 
*To-morrow  I*will  see  you,  and  tell  you  .his  decision." 

bne  parting  embrace,  and  he  turned  awafy. '  Celeste 
,  stood  watching  him  until  he  was  out  of  sight,  then 
turned  to  enter  the  cottage.  As  she  did  so,  an  iron  grasp 
was  laid  pn  her  shoulder,  and  a  hoarse,  fierce  voice 
cried  : 
,      "Stop!" 

Celeste  turned/  ancf  almojst  shrieked  aloud,  as  she 
beheld  Minnette  standing  like  a.  galvanized  corpse  be- 
fore her.  ^' 


\  k 


r  in 


ecision. 


*-*-'»^- 


.•■J 


^^£    mVALS. 


tS; 


I  * , .  1-^ 


\^'- 


CHAPTER  XXIX.  ' 

I/the  rivavs.  ^ 

lOR  a  moment  the  rivnlo  e*^  j     ..  * 

fronting  each  other^eleste  1?     "'^^  "'»■ 
bling  before  (hat    ^.  ,.  ft*'*  *"''  ""em-. 

^^  burning'eyes.  «""' "4' «"th  scorching. 

*  Minnette,  wliat  is  the  matter  ?"  ,»!rt  r-  i 
finding  voice.     "Good  heTJlh.  .      ?*"^  Celeste,  at  last 
you  were  crazed."  heavens  I  you  look  as  though 

conL'^aleLll^rhy^^re?  t™""'"  ■""'-*•    "Vou 
should  make  me  veTcoolin^  "°°''"'^''  »°  "<"">■, 

■o  you,  beware !    Bme'L  l,?°'"''°l'"'-     ^'"'  '  W 
born,  than  live  to  cro«  my^r"  '"'"  "'"'  "*'"  "*«» 

.n.^;:i;s£:^'::^';;~'-edpas.^ 

ering  flesh.  With  a  sadder  Ce^' ,'*"'''"''' '^^ -J"''" 
■»  her  hands  to  shut  out  ,1;  SthlV^r""  ""  '"=* 
dark,  gleaming  eyes.  scathing  glance  of  those 

^'J   "Oh,  Minnette! dear  1ir:»»^>   t     . 

io.    Your  eyes,  kiir^ch^'^"^!"*  -T""  »<«  'ook  at  me 

^.  "  Would  to  Heaven^  they  fould""/  ''r'- 
Minnette.  '"eX  could  I     fiercely  exclaimed 

i4-^"r:^±i  "^^  «-P    U  I  have  in-     ^ 

y  sorry.     Indeed,  indeed,  it  was  unin- 


f 


4^ 


,5? 


l-T    V, 


^:y 

'    '    T 

'-■■'  ■ 

■  ■'■•• 

y 

-  -: 

■  > 

4 

-> ." 


■.7''  ; 


■-^ 


/■• 


288 


TIfE    RIVALS. 


tentional.     I  would  sooner  die  than  have  any  one  hate 
me  !"  said  Celeste,  clasping  her  hands  imploringly. 

'^  Injured*me  !"  almost  shrieked  Minnette,  clutching 
her  arni  so  fiercely,  that  Celeste  cried  out  with  JDain. 
"Injured  me,  did  you  say7  Yes— the  greatest  injury 
one  woman  can  ever  do  jknother  *  -you  have  dolife  me. 
From  early  childhood  you  have  crossed  my  path,  and, 
under  your  artfully  assumed  Vail  of  simplicity,  won  t]^e 
love  of  the  only  being  under  heaven  I  ever  cared  fbr-r- 
won  him  withy  our  silly  smiles,  your  baby  face,  and 
cowardly  tears ;  you,  a  poor,  nameless  beggar— a  de- 
pendent on  the  bounty  of  others.  Hafg  you  /—yes,  from 
the  first"  moment  I  beheld  you,  I  hated  you  with  an  in- 
tensity you  can  never  dreams  of  until  you  feel  the  full 
weight  of  my  vengeance;  for  I  tell  you  I  will  be 
avenged;  yes,  I  woUld  peril  my  o,wn  soul,  if  by  so  do- 
ing I  could  wreak  st>Il  more  dire  revenge  on  you rNidSd. 
I  tell  you,  you  bega^  a  dangerous  game  when  you  trifled 
with  me.  I  am  no  sickly,  sentimental  fool,  to  break  my 
heart  and  die— no';  I  shall  drag  down  with  j||e  all  who 
have  stood  in  my  ^ay,  and  then  die,  if  need^  gloating 
over  the  agonies  I  have  made  them  suffer.  Beware,  I 
tell  you  ;  for  no  tigress,  robbed  of  her  young,  can  be 
fiercer  than  this  newly  awakened  heart  !*' 

■  She  hurled  Celeste  from  her,  as  she  ceased,  with  suqh 
•violence,  that  she  reeled  and  fell ;  and,  striking  her  head 
against  a  projecting  stone,  lay  for  some  minutes  stunned 
and  motionless.  A  dark  stream  of  blood  flowed  slowly 
from  the  wound  ;  an4  Minnette  stood  gazing  upon  it 
with  a  fiendish  smile  on  her  beautiful  fsfqe.  Slowly,  and 
with'Mifficulty,  Celeste  arose— pressing  her  handkerchief 
to  her  face  to  stanch  the  flowing  blood  ;  and,  lifting  her 
soft,  pitying  eyes  to  the  wildf  vindictive  face  above  her, 

she  said :  <       v  ' 

'  ^'  «'  Minnette,  1  forgive  you.    You  arc  crazed,  and  know 

;.■  ■-    ^.  .     --,■  ..  \  ■  -•>  ,.-    ./"     ■■    ■  '':^ 


d,  and  know 


i-'^Msf'^^ 


Hf^f 


'ir 


"f         «  ^ 


W#  JilFALS. 


289 

tiger  mates  with  the  laibwhe„  .„„*''/  """"  ""' 

-     love  each  other-then  we  will  te  friends  '^P         *"'"*" 

se  f  n6t  before  mo     Th       i         '"^^os-    Perjure  your- 

.0  d  scendirpC^  fo?;:u^^ruriX'';''^'" "- 

nor  believe  your  words "  -  "'^'ve  you 

"  l^oTbrt?  ',''°""°  """''y""  hate  me  so  r 

•  you  hl^e  drr  "iraTtoo"  t  o"*-^'^  "^  '"•^ 
o„.  '^..  -  ti„"'':^it'  rju'ir  j^r 

from  me  by  vour  skillf.ij  „-  u-      •  .    v.ra»Btire 

before  he  Uv  you     "ou  kl      v'°"' i    %fe»e<l>e 
very  first  mLen°  you  beheiTh-     '''"'' ^T-  '^"^ '"e 
make  him  hate  n?e     Do  „t  h   ^'"'  ''""  .'^  ■ '"  "'»^''  ">    • 
fui  impostor  T  DM  itt^el/j^^u  '^r to^^^ '  "•; 

Which*:!    ubb^d'tr't.f'r  .''--"-^very.word  of 


1^.<» 


'  :«:^r.i> 


I  <] 


l^ 


J. 


.■-^ 


*  h; 


^  V   k-i*.' 


';T-ri* 


THE    RIVALS. 


''t'^^'E^j^'i-:^"^ 


1i' 


stood  like  onct  fainting — dying.  By  a  great  effort,  she 
crushed  back  the  flood  6f.her  emotions;  and  when 
Minnette  ceaseld,  she  lifted  up  her  face — pale  as  death/ 
but  firm  and  earnest. 

"  Minnette  Wiseman,"  she  said,  in  a  voice  of  gentle 
dignity,  so  unusual  to  her  that  the  dark,  passionate  girl 
gazed  on  her  in  astonishment,  "as  heaven  hears  me,  I 
am  guilty  of  none  of  these  things  qf  which  ^ou  accuse 
me.  tf  Louis  Oranthore  loved  you,  I  knew  it  not,  or  I 
would  not  have  listened  to  him  ;  if  he  won  your  h<^art, 
I  dreamed  not  of  it,  xtr  he  should  never  have  won  mine, 
I  thought  youj  loved  no  one  but  yourself.  I  never — 
never  dreamed  you  cared  for  him.  For  all  the  misery  he 
has  caused  us  both,  may  heaven  forgive  him,'  as  I  do  !  If 
he  loved  you  first,  you  have  a  prior  claim  to  his  heart.  I 
will  tell  him  so  to-morrow,  and  never  listen  to  him  more." 

She  strove  to  speak  calmly  to  the  endYbut  at  the 
last  her  voice  died  away  in  a  low  tone  of  utter  dejspair. 

"  Bah !  your  acting  disgusts  me  !"  exclaimed  Min- 
nette, contemptuously.  "  Do  you  not  suppose  I  can  see 
through  this  vail  with  which  you  would  blind  my  eyes? 
You  will  tell  him  to-morrow,  forsooth  !  Yes,  you  will 
tell  him  I  came  here  to  abuse  you,  and  strike  you,  and 
load  you  with  vile  epithets,  and  with  what  saint-like 
patience  you  bore  them.  You  will  represent  yourself  as 
such  an  injured  innocent,  and  I  as  a  monster  of  cruelty ; 
you  will  tell  him.  When  I  smote  you  on  one  cheek,  how 
you  turned  the  other.  Faugh  I  do  not  make  nae  despise 
you  as  well  as  hate  you." 

"  You  cannot  despise  me,  Minnette;  you  know  you 
cannot,"  said  Celeste,  with  something' like  indignation 
in  her  gentle  Voice,  as  her  truth-beaming  eye  met  un- 
dauntedly the  tlashing  orbs  before  her.  "You  know  I 
have  spoken  the  truth.  You  know  in  your  own  heart  I 
am  no  hypocrite^     Hate  me  if  you  will — I  cannot  ipre- 


1 


.r- 


.^-a-i. 


"f^t^^X^^^J"'   ^v^,', 


'if-j 


•     «.' 


r^-B    Jt/VAzi 


Omn^ore  loves  you  a/yoi,  X    ."""^'r"'-     "  ^ouis 

when  you  know  he  loves  me  °1      ^^^^  y°"  give  «im  uA 
you  have  surely  and  u^rerablv  ^^"^  ^"''^"  ^°"  ''*'w 
"ell  do  you  know  Ihi.  „       ^  "°"  him  to  yourself 
.  will  elev(te  yo^a  £    *d?"'''l  '^''-<'«"i''' -oryrrs 
mation,  and  i,ake  ht  love  J™?  "«"«  sdl,  i„  hij^^ 
fore.     Oh !  you  have^W  ^T  "  ""^  'haA  ever  be 

-^"-  Pity  a„  oat;^  tZjr.,  ':t.  •"  "^i"- 

o  deceive  me  as  you  have  don^^i    ^  '  ^°-    ^hinfc  not 

leas.,ca„«eyourshal.o;:se"lreouir,°''''"'  I'  « 
"Iwillnotstay  to  listen    „  J  "'"•'"°oded  heart." 
'hey  are  ,00  dreadful.     Some  IjTr"^''  "'""ette  ;     . 
cover  how  you  have  wronged  m?'  '^  '^"^^  y""  *"'  d«-      . 
you  :  he  «„,  gi^e  me  up  «  l'     '  *"  "o' ..deceiving 
W'llevengoawayifyouP  17"' y°"  ^«y  "»«  'rue.    I 
■»ay  be  satisfied.    I  wilkZl^'^T"'''"'.  «>  'hat  you 
»ee  him  „ore,if  tharjfi^^-  ,*"'"*"'''"'.  ""d  never 
«ereda,i„,^  b„,  she  ^^''^O;,/"-^    Her  voice  fat       ' 
«ny  hjng,  Minnette,  if  "0°  Z{      ,  "'"  '^''  «"y'hing- 
.  .'emble  things.    I. 'fs  f4° ful    h  '"'I  "^  <=«^  ">«  s!ch 
without  cause  ••  ''"'"l-hornble,  to  be  hated  so 

feding,  now  glLlJ^rviv^di;  t?  T"'^  ^Po's-nt*  - 
cheek  ;  otherwise  no  snoTwr^^h  '"'™*''  °''  «'her 
her  face.  Her  teeth  w«Ts^T^™'  ""•  whiter  thaii 
clenched,  her  dark  brows  Lh  '  ''f  ''""'^^  "Shtly 
spring  upowthe  speaker  aL'/f  """'e'>  »houl  to 
"»"''  o»e  step  to':ard  her  wth  "  '°  "'^"^  ^ 
5.    -"";;;;-       -    "—    "'"'  »  P'ercing  cry  of 


i 


V- 


.r. 


''•4?  J 


~><' 


r 


-^S'. 


V-*,'«v 


=f=?^ 


v^".".^ 


♦.>  :^: 


> 


♦i, 


^^-  -.» 


'  '  v't. 


... ■*■.«■ 


^■V;: 


"f 


} 


w 


■.-i  i" 


99a 


7W^    RIVALS, 


I 


■.    ,-'  ^    ;. '    •     .  . 

.'  "^  '"  ','■■■      •«'  ■ 
-    '    ~   ■  "•  ■ »    . 

.      !    ■ 


■w  "■ 


terror,  Celj^te  spmri^:  away,  darted  through  the  garden 
gate,  flew'  'up  ttie  narrow  path,  burst  into  the  cottage, 
closed  and  bolted  the  door,  and  sank,  panting  and  almos^ 
fainting,  on  the  ground. 

♦•  Good  heavens !  child,  what  is  the  matter?"  asked 
Miss  Hagar,  rising,  in  alarm.  *.  . 

"  Oh!  save  me— save  n^e  from  her  T'-was  all  Celeste 

could  utter.  ,  '■''■.. 

"  Save  you  from  whom  ?    Who  are  you  speaking'^on 
Who  has  frightened  you  so  ?"  inquired  MiSs  Hagar,  stilK^  , 
ihor^  astonished.  ' 

Celeste  slowly  rose  from  the  groupd,  without  spcik- 
ing.  Consciousness  was  beginninjgjo  return,  but  she 
was  still  stunned  and  bewildered. 

■f\  "Merciful   Father!"  cried   Miss   Hagar,  as  Celeste 
/turned  toward  the  light,  "  what  has  h^pened  ?" 
/  •     And  truly  she  might  exclaim,  at  beholding  that  deadly 
pale  face— those  wild,  excited  eyes— the  disheveled  golden' 
hair— the  blood-stained,  and  torn  and  disordered  dress. 
,  •    '  "  Nothing !  oh,  nothing,  nothjng  !"  siaid  Celeste,  pass- 
ing her  hand  sjowly  over  her  eyes,  as  if  to  clear  away  a 
mist,  and 'speaking  in  a  «loWj5^^ bewildered  tone. 
.      '  ••  But,  child,  there  is  something  the  matter !"  in^sted 
Miss  Hagar.     "You  look  as  though  you  were  crazed, 
and  your  face  is  stained  with  blood."     " 

*'lsit?    I  had  forgotten,"  said  Celeste,  pushing  her 
hair  vacantly  off  her  wounded  forehead.    "It  is  nothing 
at  all,  though.     I  do  not  feel  it." 
"  But  how  did  it  happen  ?" 
.  it  JQi,  I — why.   I  was  frightened,  and  ran,  and  'fell," 
-said  Celeste*  scarcely  knowing  what  she  said. 
'    "  What  was  4t  frightened  you  ?"  pursued  Miss  Hagar, 
wondefing  it  her  strange  manner. 

Celeste,  without  reply,  sank  upon  tk  seat  and  pressed 
'her  hands  to  her  throbbing  temples  to  collect  her  scat-. 


=^=^ 


!■/< 


rH''  '% 


'4*1 


I 


w 


^?. 


•h 


4 


»93 

•,  intensity   of  her  emotionii  apHi.'  "'='""' "'"'."■» 

Burning.     Her  bror^ls^t  »u,H  J      '^"^  '"'   •^''J' ""d  ' 
lent  and  unusual  excitement  *"A'"'"^''  «'"'«  such  vio- 

V    «-ny^to  be  aloalTaTrhc  mfetfijcth  ""  "''^' 
m^  senses.  /  '"'8"'  *^o'^ect  her  wander- 

.  moWow,  perh^pTltii.  telT":„'a!,?.'°-'  '.°-'«'"-    ^<^ 

night:"  /  ™   ^^^   all' means.      Good- 

quiu^riSoIj^  "'"  '^'"'^^^  '^""'^  -^r  ia„p  .„a-   ^ 

^  .het:  tf^rp  rnteTb^     «;-Hin,herroo™. 
above  her  head,  which  d—^^T' :"'"'"''?  ""  """      '■ 
customed  to  exciteme«  of  any  kiT  L  f  u"  "•     '^■'*'=- 
heart  and  brirtn  were  on  fire     T  A.-       ,f"  """■'»'  " 
strong  affecfiCn  of  her  lovinAeart    '?  ""r'  "'"'  "" 
urcand  jealous  fui-y  of  M  hL,      !'  "^*  "'"''*"'  <"«"<'»■ 
her  for;.!  time.     So  she  lavlo?'"""^  """^  ""P'Sed 
•hink  or  realize  what  hid  Z^l  '"■"""■•  -'»^'«  '<> 
.  dull,  dreary  pain  at  her  h^^  Th~'"i^  "=°"«='°'»  »' 
cleared  away  ffom  her  menLTvision^et*.""''  '""'' 
Minnette  Banced  in  red  luriH  i...     T^*  ^""^  """■'^»  °f 
started  to  her  feet,  aK"d  her  T  '^/"'•"""J'es.- She  ^--, 

"OhlwhvamrHo       !,'''""' '^'■w'l'lly-  "^     t 

she  cri*^    3!^='"°°"'!' f-nake  others  mise^hw,"      •>  X 


'U  'I 


^: 


f-f^ 


't- 


•  r 


"Oh  !  why  am  r7  '^  "T  ""■  •='"""'»••  ^'Wly.     " - 
she  cr^d;::^:™4<'°-<'^--keo.he. 

why  have  you  deceived  n,.  .k  ,  ?.?'  "^""^  J^""''  •' 
•hat  I  should  suff«  such  mi-  "V  J""'  ''«™  '  ^""e 
complain.  I  m^?  nrtiU  ^2^ '  ^'"  "  '^  "™"8  '<> 
reprbach  him  for  what  hi  L  1"  u™"""-  '  *'""°' 
him.  May  he  be  TLpV^IZ"^  "•"  "^  '"  ^"^ 
,_„  ^     _.-_°°fPI^  w"h  Minnette  as  r  would 


•<rvv 


4 


n 


'X\ 


A^'v 


I: 


'  i' 


1: 


-,vV 


TIf£    RIVALS. 


,  ■>■■■,■ 


have.  Striven. to  render  him  !  To-morrow  I  will  see  him, 
and  \return  all  the  gifts  cherished  for  his  sake  :  to- 
morrow  "I    will    bid    him   a    last    adieu;    to-morrow 

/ — butj[  oh  !    1  cannot — I  cannot!"  she  exclaimed,  pas- 
sionatlply.     1*1  cannot  see  him   and   bid  him  go.    Oh, 
Fatlieit  of  the  fatherless  !  aid  me  in  my  aa'guish  !" 
r    Sh0  fell  on  her*knees  by  the  bedside,  and  a  wild,  ear- 
nest prayer  broke  from  her  tortured  lips. 

By  degrees  she  grew  calm  ;  her  wild  excitement  died 
away ;  ihe  scorching  heat  left  her  brain,  and  blessed 
tears  came  to  herald.  Long  and  bitterly  she  wept ;  long 
and  eafhestiy  she  prayed — no  longer  as  one  without 
hope,  bint  trustful  ahd  resigned,  bending  her  meek  head 
to-the  bllow  of  the  chastening  rod. 

She  i arose  from  t^er  knees,  pale,  bat  calm  and  re- 
signed. Ir 

"I  \m\  ndt  §ee  him,"  she  murmured.     " Better  for  us 

,  both  I  snould  never  see  him  again  !  I  will  write-r-I  will 
tell  him  rU — ^and  then  allthat  is  past  must  be  forgotten. 

iHn  the  (p-Qature  I  was  forgetting  Ihe  Creator;  for  the 
worship  !pf  God  I  ^as  substituting  the  worship  of  man  ; 
and  my  ^eavenly  Father,  tempering  justice  with  mercy, 
has  liftec|  me  from  the  gulf  inlto  Which  I  wks-^aUing,  and 
set  me  in|the  narrow  way  o^ce  i^ore.     Hen6e|or.th,  no 

.  earthly  1(K>1  sh^ll  fill  my  hefttt ;  to  Him  alone  shall  it  be 
consecratid^^and  I  will  H-^e  on  in  the  hope  that  there  is 
yet  'balTifciGilead'  forme."  .  ' 

.  It  was  ^ery  eaisy^  to  speak  thus,  in  the  sudden  reaction 
from  despair  to  joy — very  easy  to  talk  in  this  way  in  the 
excitement'|of  the  moment,  after  her  heart  had  been  re- 
Ueved^y  t^rs.     She  thought  not  of  the  weary  days  and 

.nights  in  the  future,  th^t  would  seem  to  have  no  end, 

.  when  her  vary  soul  would  cry  out  in  wild  despair  for 
that  "  earthly  idol  "  again.  '  : 

■  And  full  of  her  resolution,  with  cheeky  and  gyes- 


^'<'- 


^fiy 


*>*• 


ss**- 


■    '    . 

f               -  1 

[■-     ■. 

.\^ 

*^J 


./ 


*1  Vi'C  "■^f'^iW^  **%' ' 


W 


1!- 


^^: 


jgio^ 


T//M    HIVALS.^ 


A   long,  earnest,    eloquent  letter  i>  J,«»      ou 
signed  him  forever,  bidding  him   h.  I       '^    ?^^    '^'■' 
net|^,'and  forget  and  ^M"  nd^b^  ^"k   ''•"- 
soul  of  sisterly  love  and  ^i^^t    ^^^'^^  "^'^ 
was  filled,  while  her  cheeJi*fl.,l\f  !f*       ^®  ^^®''  P*§^« 

.ion  of  ,u™  she  lovedte  't  oIlT^^^l^  vIeeU  ""f ' 
she  had^,e  hi™  in  the  iafty  exaL^3Ctl~fe 

J^  rre^':t  -s-th^r  Ket:?%' 

oft.™e«io„ed  gold  oroL     'xh"  wa^  ^f  """^ '  '^  "" 

she  g^ed  ontorx  ts:^\tr  niinr 

and  blanched  lips,  the  nrel>;^»,  .^L.-  ''^™*»^»ng  finRcrs 


uw 


-1    vW 


^ 


<«  r 


396  GII*Sy    bunts' NEW    GAME. 

>\  ■  '      -' 

Then,  sealing  them^ui?,  with  one  last,  agonizing  lo.ik, 
such  as  we  might  bestow  on  the  fece  of  a  dear  friend 
about  to  be  consigned  to  the  grave,  she  sealed  and  di- 
rected the  packet,  and  then  threw  herself  on  her  bed 
and  pressed  her  hands  over  her  eyes  to  hide  out  the 
face  of  her  dead. 

But  in  spite  of  sorrow,  *steep  will  visit  the  afflicted, 
and  a  b-nght  morning  sunbeam  fell  like  a  halo  on  her 
pale  face,  calm  \^  sleep,  and  on  the  golden  eyelashes, 
still  wet  with  undrie(dHea/-drops. 

That  same  broad  Tfuly  sunbeam  fe^l  on  Minnette 
lying  prone  on  her  face  in  the  damp/pine  woods,  her 
long,  black  hair  and  dark  garments  difopping  with  the 
soaking  dew.  The  dar"k,  lonely  woods  had  been  her 
coi^ch  the  livelong  night. 


.v^ 


:JL^ 


•^    ^■ 


CHAPTER  XXX:  7^ 

■  » 

GIPSY   HUNTS   NEW   GAME.    • 

"  And  by  the  watch-fire's  gleaming  light. 
Close  by  his  side  was  seen 
A  huntress  maid  in  beauty  bright 
With  airy  robes  of  green." — Scott. 
•  r 

|T  was  early  afternoon  of  that  same  day  on 
which  the  events  related  in  the  last  chapter- 
occurred.  Squire  Erliston,  in  after-dinner 
mood,  sat  in  his  arm-chai^  ;  Louis  lay  idly 
on  a  lounge  at  a  little  distance,  and  Gipsy  sat 
by  the  -window,  yawningly  turning  over  a  volume  of 
prints.  Mrs.  Oranmore,  swathed  in  shawls,  lounged  on 
her  sofa,  bef  prayerbook  in  her  hand,  taking  a  succession 
of  short  nap»s.  1 


-tfU, 


GJPSy    ffcj^rs    W£H^    GAMS. 


-J-. 


forget  it  altogether.  ^'"="*'"«"''  •"«  "emed  quite  to 
actlu;\:i^;;d'l^l:^;';"/'°Lo.i:i  ..thlscou„dreI 
and  carried  off  more  ,h»„  I  1'*  "'"'"S''  ""e  window, 
their  very  ^o^  ?r,^  '""'  """"^  "«••'  "ad*; 
He  deserves. oS  drawn  and  °"''-^'''^  o«.4geous  ! 
And  he  will  be.  too  rfTe-rtfkrn^'T'h'  """'^  "'"""^  ' 
be  overrun  with  ju  t  such  .^as 'il  1^1  "°"''"7'"  ^'^ 
made  an  example  of."  ^      ^*  scoundrel  i.nY 

sudde^'niy^wTki:™  „"p°"  'P^?""*^-  •-P-'"  i»q-ed  Lizzie, 

Big'?o';"^th°;°caThr'' Ver  r" ''.^^*« -"• 

only  makes  hfs'appearaToe  ,f  ^i^h"  '  Hest^r^^J*"' 

Prummond  himself;  and  since  then  iheV       "^^  ^f^"* 

sorts  of  depredations.    Simm?  thT^    ?  ™'""''««»1  all 

.    yesterday  with  constahl-!,^  '"e  sheriff,  eam^ down 

-ight,  the  scoundrel  a^'uXll?-!.;'"""  L"""  "^"^S  "" 
the  sheriff's  window  .„^i^      ^^*  audacity/ to  kter 

>a«  before  .h:;^tuw"t'r„"Pr';'''' »'•/<'«'' •'o" 
stables  in  the  yard  as  he  w,^?-  ""*'  ""l*  °'  ""  <=<»^ 

Cried  .  murder^nd  sefz'ed  Srb!t  Bt  :^^'=^T^^- 
•egolar  giant— iust  lift^i  i,"     '  ^  ^om— who  is  a 

the  wallfwhere  he  fe  ^..  "P»"<»  hurled  him  over 

hi,  collar-bone  two  of  Lis"^""  ".''*?  °'  "°»«^>  "reaking 
as  Sotemon  says  The  "„  ft.  "''  ">«  ■•«'  <"  his  rib^ 
and  Big  Tom  Joi  olu,  2T    ■'  ""'  «P~'«» '»  ""e ; 

"  Why  do  thet  nl  1       ^  u '"  "^'"^  »''"'  •"»  booty."    , 
quired  LouTs.      ^         '"''"'■-""  »<'<«'s  in  a  body^'  f^. 

where."  °  "  hay-stack-couldn't  find  him  any- 


.    \       y 


*<■ 


x^.      *^P"?^  •'    »id  Gipsy,  laughing,  "it 


-  •■#, 


■kM". 


\r 


■4 


'11 


Ifl 


.  f 


■^K*-^-< 


'**hi^-"r 


)t'V* 


"■■x. 


r-  ■■  ■  t 


?1^  •  <" 


?^-' 


*       "      ^  .  t    i    *- 

J  498  GIPSY    HUNTS    ITEW^GAAtg. 

reminded  me  of  *  hide-and-go-seek'  more  tlian  anything 
else.  Once  or  twice  they  caught  sight  of  me  through  the 
I  bushes,  and  taking  me  for  poor  Tom,  came  pretty  near 
firing  on  me.  Simms  made  them  stop,  and  called  to  me* 
to  surrender  to  the  law,  or  I'd  repent  it.  Accordingly,  I 
surrendered,  and  rode  out,  and — my  goodniess ! — if  they 
didn't  look  blue  when  they  saw  me !  I  burst  right  out 
laughing  in  their  face,  and  made  Simms  so  mad  that  I 
guess  he  wished  he  had  let  his  men  shoot  me.  Oh  !  didn't 
I  have  a  jolly  time,  though!  I  took  them,  by  various 
artifices,  miles  out  of  their  way — generally  leaving  them 
half'swamp^d  in  a  bog,  or  in  some  pathless  part  of  the 
woods — until  Simms  lost  all  patience,  and  swore  till  he 
was  black  in  the  face,  and  rode  home  in  a  towering  pas- 
sion, all  covered  with  mud,  and  his  fine  city  clothes  torn 
to  tatters.  Ha,  ha,  ha!  I  guess  I  enjoyed  it,  if  they 
didn't.'; 

"As  mischievous  as  ever!"    exclaimed  the  squire. - 
"  Pretty  way,  that,  to  treat  the  officers  of  the  law  in  the 
discharge  of  their  duty  !     How  will  you  like  it,  if  that 
black  demon  comes  here  some  night,  and  murders  us  all 
in  our  beds  ?" 

Lizzie  uttered  a  stifled  shriek  at  the  idea. 

"I'm   sure  I'll   be  glad  of  it,  if  he  only  murders 
Spider  first,  and  so  save  me  the  trouble,"  said  Gipsy. 

"You're  an  affectionate  wife,  'pon  my  word,"  mut- 
tered "Louis. 

"Yes;  but  it's  just  like  the  diabolical  young  imp,"' 
growled  the  squire. 

"Thank  you — you're  complimentary,"  muttered 
Gipsy.  - 

"Mind -you,"  continued  the  squire,  "while  Big 
Tom's  at  liberty  you  must  leave  off  youf  rides  through 
the  woods  and  over  the  hills— because  he  might  be  the 
dcttth  of  you  at  any  moment." 


■m 

B&:, 

',  f 

m*t, 

.  'V 

'-; 

:l 


W' 


■.  Wii.TJ!;;  WiK;'«r>W,« 


^  **  &A^    "* 


GIPSY    HUNTS    NEW    GAME. 


299 

I  never  was 


More  likely  I'd  be  the  death  of  him 
born  tp  be  killed  by  a  ruffian."         ]     '""' 

No  J  for  if  the  gallows  had  its  "dues " 

"You  wouldn't  be  here  to  d^^  "  •  . 
"Come-dott'tinternW         ^'     interrupted  Gips)?.  . 
tively  forbid  you  oTry^onTL^T^  T"^"-  ^  P-'- 
while  Big  Tom's  roaming  about  »  P'*""  "^^°^^"' 

to  give   MigUne  a^n  ^alri ng'ni  ,ttl  °7'  ^'^  ''"  ^? 
mands  by  the  way  "  ^'  '  '°^  **^  yo"*"  com- 

dan«ero;.7i„t  ■  »«»i-f  "ife  coz.  it  .eaU,  is  • 

counter  tliis  gigantic  „eLo  =7        ■      ^°"  ""•*  '"  en- 
serious  affairfl^m  ataW?    ■  '  "  ''°"'<?  "^  ""-er  a 

'y^iZT:"DT^::Zo^^  r"n  -<,  courteous  Mrs.   ' 
afraid !     Whew !  ^Uik7?Z  f  V^^-Gipsy  G^wer 
"y  dear  Louis.     I  could  fa.^  ^''^  ^'""'  ■"'»<»  ««/.   ■ 

bacit  without  flincW^g  "  *  '"S""^'"  °»  M%noone-j 

a,  ste"t«r  '^"''' "" '°  <'°"  "«  "d'»E-habit,  singing 

"Some  love  to  roam 
O  er  the  dark  sea  foam. 

But  a  chosen  band  ' 

And  a  life  m  the  woods  for  me  " 


I 


•&. 


Ten  minutes  afterward  thev  saw  hw  .:^  , 

courl^yard  at  her  usual  furiouTratr  ^Z  a    I  °"'  °^  '^« 
thehill,;  when,  she  was  sjS^^tl^^^  ^"^^  T 


1--    - ,' 


3  • 


.*'♦ 


f ,  -■". 


^- -t 


'.^  '.-'■ 


if^ 


■  .-■       ''•■    -.-v- 


'm^: 


3<J9       -    GIPSY    HUNTS 


I^MW 


GAME, 


«. 


along,  riding  in  the  most  hazardous  praGes—sometimes 
narrowly  escaping  being  dashed  to  pieces  over  preci- 
pices— sometimes  leaping  yawning  chasms  that  would 
make  many  a  stout  hunter's  head  giddy.     Tlie  excite- 
ment was  a  part— a  necessity— of  her  nature.  The  almost 
stagnant  life  in  the  village  would  have  driven  the  hot- 
headed, impetuous  girl  wild,  but  for  the  mad  excitement 
of  the  chase.    Brave  as  a  young  lioness— bold  and  free 
Hf'^e  eagle  of  her  native  nroun tains— she  scorned  fear, 
and  sought  danger  as  others  do  sa^y.    She  knew  it  was 
putting  her  head  into  the  lion's  mouth  to  venture  alone 
into  this  wild,  unfrequented  region,  within  arm's  length 
of  a  desperate  villain,  hunted  down  like  a  furious  beast ; 
yet  the  idea  of  not  venturing  here  never  oiice  entered 
her  mad  little  head. 

It  was  growing  dark  before  Gipsjf  began  to  think  of 
turning  her  steps  homeward.  Reluctantly  she  turned 
her  horse's  head,  and  set  out  for  Mount  Sunset— half  re- 
gretting she  had  met  with  no  adventiifee  worth  relating 
on  her  return.  l-*      ,  ^;  ,  ^ 

As  she  rapidly  galloped  along  she  discovered/she  had 
ridden  much  farther  thap  she  had  intended,  and  that  it 
wdjuld  be  late  ere  she  reached  the  hall.  The  dim  star- 
liffllt  alone  guided  her  path  ;W  the  moo'n  had  not  yet 
nseh.  But  Mignonne  was  so  well  accustomed  to  the 
J??*' r^l**®  could  have  found  his  way  in  the  dark  ;  and 
Qipsy^;0d6^on  gayly,  humming  to  herself  a  merry  hunt- 
ing-chd^. 

^nly  a  gleam  of  light  from  between  the  trees 
flashed  across  their  Ipath.  Mignonne,  like  his  mistress, 
being  onlfi  a  half-taUed  thing  at  best,  reared  suddenly 
upright/ and  would/ hav^  dashed  oflf  at  headlong  speed, 
had  not,  Gipsy  held  the  reins  with  a  grasp  of  iron 
Her  strength  was  wonderful  for  a  creature  so  small  and 
slig:ht;  but  her  vigorous  exercise  had  given  her  thews 

A       .        •        '  ...  ■■./.: 

■.» 

/ 

/        • 


S  ■  r    •- 


'It     '    ^  I'  "■ 


C/^JK   ^t,j^rs   J^S»r  GAME.         ,1 
plunges,  stood  still  and  surrendered  "     '  ^"^ 

froze  the  very  blood  in  her  veins  '        *  "'°"^"' 

A  small  semicircle  was  before  her   in  fii- 
which  the  remains  of  a  fire  stin  !u    '^      the  center  of 
reddish  glare  around.     B^its  lurfd  1.^11'.^^ "^  ^  ^^' 
of  a  gigantic  negro,  whose  hideon^  J^  ""^^  ^^"""^ 

fully  convulsed  with  7a J^     a„  h      ^""^  "^^^  "°T  ^"^h'- 
y  woman,  whom  h?gra?ped  with  o  '^r'fu*^''^*^^'  '^^^ 
^d  with  the  ^^^^r^C^Ll^Z^Zt'^^'^'r'^ 
.     murderous  knife.    The  sio-ht  f^- .  "^  "  '""& 

eyes,  and  her  very  heart  cfaseih  V"'°"'*"'  "*"  Gips/,     " 
rapidity    of  liKhtni^J^  I.^    **""«^-    ^hen,  with  the 
fir^.  "SM-'-g.  she  drew  a  pistol,  aimed  and 

With  theTril rrradma'n  .rh"  ""''  "^^  '^  '="«• 

the  air,  and  bounded  to  wher^  .h  '"'8»  ""S™  'e«Pe<i  into 

fly.  b„t  ere  she  hadldvanced  .  ™rd  r'"    ^"^  "^""^^  '" 

^o„s  grasp  of  «,e  wouided  monaster     Hr  J"  ""^  '"''        - 

fJike  balls  of*fire,  he  foamerheVoarfdJ^K  *''"*"'' 

>  Spain,  aswith  one  huMhanrf  L„-  Tt    "'""  ™«eand 

Npsy  to  dash  ou,  1^  b!S°„'!,'"'  "'"«'  "»  »%•«  fP™  of 

i     I"  that  monfent  k  deadly  Deriiii..T.         .  i     ' 
V-ool  rfnd  self-possSssed  as  thoueh  ,h-  *"     *" " 

safety  in  her  gJardian's  ^rlor     A  ^L^"^^^  '" 
stuck  in  his  belt.     Quick  a,  ,h-.     f '"^"'"S  ■">!'«  was 


■ .  *l 


« 


■'{-"'-  3.''v 


*  -iL- 


3o«      /^    ^IPSY    HUNT^   NEW    GAME. 

s  .  ■      '   '.  •         * 

Gipsy  sprang  from  his  grasp  just  as  he  fell  heavily  to 
the  ground.  -^ 

Gipsy  staggered  against  a  tree,  with  a  deadly  inclina- 
^  .tion  to  swoon  coming  over  her.    She  covered  her  face' 
,    with  her  hands  to  hide  the  ghaSlly  form  of  the  huire 
negro    lying  weltering  in  his  own  blood   before  her. 
;  She  had  taken  a  life ;  and  though  it  was  done  in  self-de- 
fense, andrto   save   the  life  of  another,  it  lay  on  her 
heart  like  lead. 

The  thought  of  that  other  at  length  aroused  her  to 
action  Darftng  through  the  trees  she  approached  the 
lire.  The  woman  lay  on  the  ground,  senseless,  and  half 
strangled.  The  firelight,  as  it  fell  upon  her,  showed  the 
face  and.  form  of  an  old  woman,  upward  oiF  fifty,  poorly 
clad,  and  garments  half  torn  off  in  the  scuffle 

The  sight  restored  Gipsy  to  h^r  wonted  comnosure. 
Kneeling  down,  she  began  rchafing  the. old  womafs 
hands  -and  temples  with  .an  energy  that  soon  restored 
,her  to  consciousness.  S!ie  opened  her  eyes  and  glared 
for  a  moment  wildly  around;  then,  as  consciousness  re- 
turned,  she  uttered  shriek  upon  shriek,  making  the  forest 
resound.  |  * 

^  "Stop  your  screaking,"  said  Gipsy,  shaking  her  in 
her  excitement.  "Yoili 're  safe  enough  now.  Stop  will 
you.    I  tell  you  you're  safe." 

.  "Safe!"  repeated  the  woman,   wildly.     "Oh.  that 
drefful  nigger " 

"He  won't  hurt  you  any  more.  Stop  your  noise, 
and  get  up,  and  come  with  me !"  said  Gipsy,  imoa- 
tiently.  .        -%■     ^  ^^       *^ 

...  "  ^>.  ^  ^°'"*  *  "*®^<^y  '    ^  <^an't  git  up-     I'm  all  out  o' 
J  mt.    I  m  dead  entirely  I"  groaned  the  woman. 

i!^*^  ^  *''*"  **^*^®  ^?"  '*®''®'"  ^**^  Gipsy,  rising. 
OB,  Tdon't  leave  me  I—don't,  for  God's  sake  I    I'd 


■r. 


C/^^r  ^Zr^„    iVriw^CP^^^. 


'V 


screaked  the  woman,  gasping  Gipsy's 


,^*die  o'  fear! 
dress. 

fierce  little  Amazon  b:fo«terai'„?,r?  '"'^''  "' "■« 
"  This  war  "  said  Pi.;.         '.,  ""*  """ee  "egro. 

Mood  her  Wk     "  Nor^et  irth*""  "'""^  '°  ""ere 

arvsaro„„d  my  wairtTnd^tol7  J*""*'  *"'*  P"'  y<""- 
"Oh !  dear  me  I    i'never  rid     k  °'  1°"'  "'«" 

aid  ni  fall  off-I  knawT 'nn.^"? *""  '»  "^  «fe. 

wringing  h„ha„ds  .^  dllULs""'""'  o'"  *-«-  : 

'emptT'st'aX'':!,'!  1' 'i^"'^.  T^^  ■"^'''  "'«  «■ 
thep«.p,e.     Which  will  ;:udo^'-.""''^»"<'"''»/^'P 

how."  "  ""^^-'^ay-    rilgo  -long  with  yo{5  some. 

"ftS  s  th?sare^°"i?::"^"'  '^-'"'■--^ ' 

■    you,  and  mind,  ifyoudw,  km'     "  «*'  "^  "^'o™ 
reach  the  village  alC-!^  "  ""  well,  you'll  iever 

Gip^'r'o^dthtvXTnd^'ieM'''^^  '"'  "^^  ^^ 
Mount  Sunset  walSn^  „h     °"  ^°''  "*"  '"«'  »«" 

shewas  assisted"  S'a^d""'  '"•'"■*  "^'^^  "■»  »«''«.    ' 
•his  servants.  *    '  "°^  ^"signed  to  the  care  of  - 

Celest^a?rn'l^;trjrrh^°"''^' '««"'-''''•' 
how  he  should  make  hi^n         "",*  '^''"^'  "editating 

wild,  and  disordeTe d  he  haTST''  T*!,' "  ^^'P^^'  P«'«. 
ments  dyed  with  bloAdh-  '^"*''"^'  »"«•  her  gar- 
them  wilhaZemen,  '       "  "^P""  ""■"•  "petrifying 

"""  was  their  consteroat.  As  they  lM.e*to  .he 


303     > 


'T'   \ 


>  ''J 


'*^e 


--■■', 

■1 


.  I'-   .^.'-J-"/-: 


304/        G:/i»5y    HUJ>tTS  ^NEIV    GAMM, 

rapidly-tpld  tale.  There  was  no  time  left  to  congratulate 
her  on  her  narrow  escape,  for  she.  impetuously  com- 
manded Louis  to  mount  immediately  and  take  three  or 
|our  of  the  servants  to  brings  away  the  body. 

With  a  rapidity  almost  as  great  as  her  own,  her  coun- 
sels were    obeyed,  and  Gipsy,  with  Louis  beside  her^ 
started  back  to  the  scene  of  the  catastrophe,  followed  by 
four  of  the  servants. 

They  reached  the  spot  at  last,  and  Gipsy  drdw-back 
in  dismay  as  she  discovere^d  the  body  was  gone. 

«* Who    can    have    cafried    it    off?"  she   exclaimed, 
aghast. 

"I  rather  think   he   has   carried    h'imseff  off,"  said 
Lopis,  who  had  been  attentively  examining  the  ground. 

^'  Oh,  impossible  !     He  was  dead,  I 
dead  as^  ever  he  could  be,"  said  Gipsy. 


■  s>  ':f'  . 


■just  as 


"  Well,  dead  or  not,  he  has  made  his  escape,"  said 
Louis.  "See,  the  grass  is  dyed  with  bloq^^ll  along, 
showing  the  way  he  has^one.  Come,  the  trail  is  plain 
enough,  let  us  follow  it."     . 

All  dismounted  and  followed  Louis.  Not  far  had| 
they  to  go,  for  lying  by  the  fire  was  the  burly  form  of 
the  negro.  He  had  evidently,  with  much  difficulty! 
di^gged  himself  thus  far,  and  then  sank  down  exhausted. 

He  rolled  his  glaring  eyes  fiercely  on  the  fs^ces  bend- 
ing over  him,  and  gnashed  his  teeth  In  impoteht  rage  as 
he  saw  Gipsy.         ^t '^ '  ^  » 

^  "Thank  God!  I  have  not  killed  hin^  .'"was  he^  first 
fervent  ejaculation.  'Then,  while  Louis  and  the  sei*- 
vants  began  making  a  sort  of  litter,  she  knelt  beside 
hini,  and  strove  to  stanch  the  flowing  blood,  undeterred, 
by  t^ie  wild,  ferocious  glare  of  his  fiery  eyes.    ',. 

"Now,  Tom,  look  here,"  said  Gipsy,. as^shfpoai- 
posedly  went  9n  with  her  work,  "  there's  no  use  in  vour 

4o  •  •      • 


^^K    HUNTS    NEW    GAME. 


me; 


-'  fif^on  y^"fi^";''^  "-Am.  either.  W  .ho„g,. 
-«n,S;*holg„7^'4Z  ':  f"  'he  life  of  an  old 
if  JlnhJe  use  of  voVr  l„!f  r  "'"  '°  ""*  f'-'''  i  ""d 
.He  lifT'of  Mrs   D°"'  ''v/l^''"*"'^.  "  w«  <o  s^e 

help  myself,  and  you  may  as  1,,?  ^t"  '*?  '^■"■'''"'' 
Ihe  same  ligi,,."     ^  ^  "  "*"  '"?''  «  ""e  matter  in 

-the  wounded  giant  wtlfft^H     ^'^  ."'e' heavy  f„rm  of 
borne  toward  the  viC  ww/?      '"■  """"<'='■''  »"<> 

care  of  the  sheriff  X  was  ,h     2  "'    f°"'«"='^ '"  '"« 
of  Gipsv's  daring  '  "'undferstrucMhen  he  heard 

how  it  had'autcTe?  threatened  with  a  sever;,  iUnessi 

.n  a  little  cottage  b^^ond^sM  V  ' '""  '^'^  ^'^"' 
.  Jo.:jrstee  rer'n'  '''ur"  '—"e  never  con- 
„jl,  Y  '""""  y»''i'  remember  them  in  her 

.0  K::;^fe:^^'7°'' ""  believing  itS„^^ 

give  him.  anf  told  Wrsrwhth"^-  ^'^  "'"'  "°«  '*> 
)ond  measure  ke  ih^f '  ^  '^^"'"'P"'"«^  him  l>b. 
in  ref  nsi4  and  X^^l'^J"  "'"  ''*'' "  »he  persisted  ' 
,  SndinghSi„te'^/*r  '"^"'fl'  her  crieiT  Then, 
the  splthe"  "(Sra  ^^T"  ""  °«  >vith  him  to 
her  her  life  if  she  infrf  h  r      ""•  »"'^  »«»!"  offered 

she  was  for«d*o-Si       7"  '^^  ''^'"  '"""^r-    S"'" 
-  disappoin^^;^!?.'""  "^dlened  with  ».ge  and 


^^^=^z^;:^^'^^-^^^ 


■>':"' 


i4  -] 


^ .'] 


</ 


/ 


^     i 


,  and  saved  her  life. 


Ml 


'v^r 


m       ■* 


•^1       I 


vw 

^     ^"P^Q^f^ 

wwj.^  i^^tfn 

E5  '•*'"''  ■       '  <  ; 

.^  v..    .. 

p,"^ 

^'iiiw^H^ 

W^mSi 

ps"-'--^  ^••; 

•  .    '» 

'  ♦. 

-,  * .       /. 

/ 

*            • 

* 

* 

' 

-  .\ 

iV 

CMLMSTE'S    TRIAL, 


.  Not  without  many  imcrnjptions  was  this  story  told  • 
and  ere  i^  was  concluded,  Mrs.  Donne  was  ih  a  high 
fever.    -Gipsy  installed  herself  as  nurse,  and  listened  in 
wonder  and  surprise  to  her  raving  of  iqfants  left  to  per.,.  ^ 
isb  in  snow-storms,  and  her  wild  \i^nis  of  8orrow»art< 
remorse  for  some  past  crime/  •      *"  ^ 


— .-It--. 


■»  (l.T^- 


A     7     i      I 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

9j|il|STE'lS  .TRIAL. 


"This  mora  is  nteriyjirae,  I  trow, 

The  rose  is  budding  fain  ; 
Burt  she  shall  bloom  in  winter  snow, 

Ere  we  two  meet  again. 
He  turned  his  charger  as  he  spoke, 

.Upon  the  fiver  shore  ; 
He  gave  the  reins  a  shake,  and  said. 

Adieu  forevermore; 
My  love  ! 

Adieii  forevermore." 
»  1         •      ■      .  ■  i' 

RRY  G^jpte  Pearl!— 
farthingV^  beggar ! .  a  iRnpi^.^^ ..  ^  .  .u 
astoiiish^d,  thunderstr,uck,  speechless,  sir,  at 
your  audacity  in  proposing  such  ^  thino-  T  I 
\have  objections,  sir— most  dSr-cided  oEjec- 
>^r  !    pon't  6ver  let  me  hear  you  mention  such  a 

gj^^uire^liston  stamped  up  afid  down,  r^d  with  % 
id  indigip^d'n. 

ais  stood  with  darkening  brows,  flashing  eye§,  and 
folded  ^rms.  before, him— out ward4y  quiet,  hut  rampres  ' 


^1      , 


i    ,    f       *k> 


m,  red  with  v 


C£L£ST£'^    TRiAd 


»?  lips  to  keep  down  the  fieij.  tide  of  his  ^ 


-  ■■^' . 


307 


n. 
fofced^'cl^es/""'  '"'^'"""'■"'  »- '••'■«  asked,   ^i.h 

fore,  sir,  p,ea^  „!:;  "L  Sfl'l'T"'"-"'"    ''''•^*- 
«ay,hing  more  abo«  i  Ifo.  "LldnT  "*"'  '°  "^^ 
were  to  plead  on  your  knees  '™"'''».' ?""»<"«  if  you 
enough  in  her  dUcp  I.,.,  .r      The  g,rl's  »  good  girl 
J.ouifo«nmore     Wh»,       *  "°"  '  ""  '"'•  'he  wife  rf 

'     To  .he-riSer  ande?e  C'  mTZ  "t'  ^"••' '"«  "''^ 
should  marrv  a  nonr,.„i,  ?     ^*  'he  north  poleL 

allher  r.fVr  r  rrU;°:"ofc*';;}-''.<' '•''»'"'«5 
said  the  squire  furio.i<;l^  aj     •      l^      ^°'  **'"'  "^^^r  I" 

and  mopplg^'ilTnar^^^^r^f  """""  ""°  ""  <*»-• 

-d'^iVret^rnrn^g'^lUiSeT^'^^^^ 
from  the  room  >.!„   h.«  fi"^^®'!^'®  ^"g®''*  he  burst 

whUher  he  .^^  .t^^*;    f,  :^S5^«rwr  ""* 
eneenng.  with  a  let.er  in  heV  hand!*  ^'  "'"'  "*" 

what  Curly,  old  Miss  AUr't^!:''  ">''"'  '°'-  y<>". 
n.e_her  you^igMit'^Slesf  s^nt^iu''™''*''' °'"' "'»<'" 

her  hlXn^S  iton""  m"^""''-  ^■'"='""«  ■•f'™" 
and  scarcely  abTr?oh,r"-  ."'' «^''" '"' '» '•>«  fl-""-  ; 
•ents-his  brow  Ll°i„tri-  '"'''•  ""^x^ '"«>»- 
He  crushed  it  fi;^elv^i„;'7"^  darker  as  be  read.  " 

.cprn^'^:^  .■:-^'"^j"--'-  ■■»  e^da.n.ed;  with, 
gn.       sue  gives  me  up,  and  bids  me  be 


•I 


<i— _.*— 


-■,^r 


:' 


:-^; 


:*'-t','' 


3®^ 


CELESTE'S    TRIAL. 


;  rv  '     f  r  •^ 


Happy  With  Minnctte.     What  drove  that  jealous  girl  to 

love  me ;  afld  to  make  Celeste  believe  I  loved  her  first  ? 

everything  seems  to  cross  my  path-this  mad  girl's  pas- 

*'°";  f  "^  "™y  grandfather's  obstinate  refusal.     Well  she 

shall  be  mine,  in  spite  of  fate,     I  will  marry  her  pri- 

^/vately  and  take^her  with  mo- to  Italy.     Yes,  that  is  the 

only  plan.    -I  will  ride  over  to  the  cottage^  and  obtain 

her  ^consent;  and  then,  let  those  I  leav?  behfed    do 

as  they  will,  my  happiness  will  be  complete."      1  '  ■      - 

^^So  saying-,  he  quitted  the  house,  mounted  Kt^  horse, 

and  rode  rapidly  toward  the  cottage. 

^  K     K ^*?''^  ^^'  '"  '^^  ^''"'^^"'  ^'"^^"^  "P  a  broken  rose- 
'^bush--look?ng  paler,  but  lovelier  than  ever.  She  uttered 

ahalf-st.fledcryas^he  saw  him,  and  the  last  trace  of 

color  faded  from  her  face  as  he  leaped  from  his  horse 

and  istood  beside  her. 

/  "Celes^  what  means  this  n  he  demanded/ impetu- 
oiisly.  "Do  you  really  believJ  this  tale  tolj  yoS  by 
Minnette  ? '  \-  »  /   "  "/ 

"Oh  Louis,  is  it  not  true  ?"  exclaimed  Celeste,  clasp- 
ing  her  hands.  *  \ 

.  "True  !    Celeste,  Celeste  !  doyou  take  me  to  besuciv 
a  villain  ?    As  heaven  hears  me,  I  never  spoke  k  word  of  > 
lovetoherin  my  lifet" 

VrThis  was  true  in  thp  letter,  but  not  in  the  spirit.  He 
>d  n^ver  sM^n  of  love  to  Minnette,  but  he  had  looked 
It  often  enough. 

y^"Timnk  heaven!"  exclaimed  Celeste,  JmpuJsively 
while  she  bowed  her  face  in  her  hand^  and  wept%.  ^ 
"Dear  Celeste."  said  Louis,  drawing  her  gently 
toward  him  "  do  you  retract  those  cruel  wordtyou  have 
written  }  Vou  will  not |^ive  me  up,  will^ou  ?"  r^-^^- 
"Oh,  no  !  not  now,"  replied  Celeste,  yielding  to  his 
embrace.  "Oh,  Louis,  what  do  you  suppose  made  Min- 
nettp  say  such  firffldfiil  things  to  me  luui  uight  ?" 


jealous  girl  to 
loved  her  first  ? 
mad  g^r^s  pas- 
sal.  Well,  she 
marry  her  pri- 
Yes,  that  is,  the 
^e^  and  obtain 
V0  beh^d  do 
ite."  ,|  ■  ■  :  ■  - 
nted  Kii  horse, 

a  broken  rose- 
;r.  She  uttered 
e  last  trace  of 
from  his  horse 

ndedi  impetu- 
5  tola  yoii  by 

Celeste,  clasp- 

Die  to  besuciv 
oke  a  word  of  ^ 

^e  spirit.  He 
he  had  ioo/igd 

-ilffjejifsively, 

wept.^' 

'    her   gently 

>rds  you  have 

)U  ?"        -^^^ 

Biding  to  his 
le  inade  Mia- 


^  ,,  CELESTA  ^S    TRIAL.        .  303 

deai^^^J.^,];!"  -«"  "«'  think  me  conceited^ 

PerhapHo:,  ^he  li   ks   rTdlT^'^'i  ^^  ^'"^'""^  ^^  >'-' 
return  her  affection'    and  thr         ^'^^^  >"°"' ^  "^^S^t 

erical  hopesl  bl  oJr  imlL  ?  ^""'^  '"  ""^  ^^^'^  ^^^™- 
when  will  you  be  min^T     "''  """"•     ^^^'^^^  »-«> 

iBg*lcarlel"'"iVH  ^  ^°  "°'^"o^"  said  Celeste, T^fusK^ 

•    -^^^"-s^^r^rrL;^^-^^^^^^ 

I  have  asked  him,  dearest." 
"And  he -" 

■and'S^^l'    bS"  Cellrk''  ** '°-    ««  ^^  obstina.. 
differ^^!;^.-"!?^"'  *"'  ••"'"^'  ««<i  mak,*  no 

u„c™:eT.lrwti"  '^^^""'"  ^''-'-"'  "'ookor 

succeeded  i"  pacif?i;;.t"«,:r„':   H^y  L^^r''"^'' 
saw  no.  that  earnest,  sorrZfu'  ^^^1'  °'  P""'-'  -<>  "e 

«Bu;v°"'';„''°"'''''°"'''"''''*<="«d,  sadly.         , 

*^ would  be  wrong."  '    - 

"Wrprtg!    Because  an  old  man  ohiVrr  ♦«  , 
of  fortune,  it  would  be  »!.»«"  !^  ° -    !      ^"^  r""'"  ^"^^ 


Celeste  I 


« .  ""g  lo  marry  me.    Nonsense^ 


-\~ 


,-r 


1^ 


1,  ■" 


•  -I 


\ 


.vY 


CELESTE'S    TRIAL. 


wrong  to   disobey  your  grandfather, 

I  am  not  bound  to 


310 


"It  would 
Louis." 

"Not  in  a  case  like  this,  Celeste, 
obey  him  when  he  is  unreasonable.'" 

"He  is  not  unreasonable  in  this,  Louis.     It  is  very 
reasonable  he  should  wish  you  to  marry  one  your  equj 
in  wealth  and  social  position." 

"  And  would  you  have  me  marry  for  weailth  and 
position,  Celeste  ?"  he  asked,  reproachfully.  '  ""^ 

"Oh!  no,  no!  Heaven  forbid  !  But'  I  would  not 
marry  you  against  his  will.  We  can  wait— a  few  years 
will  not  make  much  difference,,  dear  Louis.  We  are 
both  young,  and  can  afford  to  be  patient." 

"  Patience  !  Don't  talk  to  me  of  patience!"  he  ex- 
claimed, passionately.  "  You  never  loved  me ;  if  you  had 
you  would  not  stand  thus  on  a  little  point  of  decorum. 
You  are  your  own  mistress— you  have  no  parents  to 
whom  you  owe  obedience  ;  my  mother  is  willing  enough, 
and  yet,  because  an  old  man  objects  to  your  want  of 
money,  you  stand  there  in  your  cold  dignity,  and  exhort 
me  to  be  patient  and  wait.  Celeste,  I  will  not  wait.  You 
must  come  with  me  to  Italy !" 

But  she  only  stood  before  him,  pale  and  sad,  but  firm 
and  unyielding. 

.  Long  and  eloquently  he  pleaded,  passionately  and  ve- 
hemently he  urged  her,  but  all  in  vain.  She  listened.and 
apswered  by  silence  and  tears,  but  steadily  and  firmly 
refused  to  consent. 

"  Well,  Celeste,  will  you  come  ?"  he  asked,  at  length, 
after  a  long  and  earnest  entreaty. 

^:  "Louis,  I  cannot.  Not  even  for  your  sake  tan  I  do 
what  my^ppnscience  tells  me  would  be  wrong.  You  say 
your  gra«dfather  has  no  right  to  control  you  in  your 
choice  offia  wife.     I" '  *  ■ 


sad,  but  firm 


.^'■-^^-''sf'is^  r^jfil 


«2?g^^t'r, 


CELESTE  STjiJ^j^^ 


proi d  and  sinful  •  hnf  t     -»  t 
\ily  vio  would  no.  be'wun2.~""  "''"  <"«-afa™. 
<»y3u|yishere  with  M     '  |a;°/-f;7f™-    Besides, 
you,  What  would  become  of  h!rr.      '  "  '  T"*  'o  marry 

Louis.-ran.uo.soT.Terlytefisra'H"'''^  ^4 

not  urge  me  further,  as  I  see  vi^.'      t  ""S't^^^'M-    Do 

resolution  is  unalte  able  V.Z  "'°'"  '"  "O'  '"'  "•? 
ally  is,  k  can  be  firm  at Ll/*'  u ^ "'""^«  »«""■■ 
that  you  can  say  w"  1  alte"mv  H  ,    '"■  ""'  '=*^'  °°">ing 

He  stood  er«t  l«foe'he7hfsT'"'r ''''"•" 
aoger  and  mortification         '         ^"'  '*'*  "°"<'«»  with 

;?irss;i^tg;r::::[;je-<..co,di, 

fair  Celeste,"  hrsa7sc:rnS^.'hfr  «''^'»«  -' 
from  my  eyes,  that  is  all      I  f„„  '■  ^   Siamour  has  faded 

an  angel.   ^I  ^..^J  e"„ujh  ,„  h  r''""  '""'  '*"  """"^ 
well  enough  to  biave  even  S.      .''!''*''«  y"  loved  me  > 
my  sake.  ^  find  yo^'  ironlvT"'""  °'  '"^  '^°^"  '<"     > 
■nore  pride  and  ambitiortr„  i       T""*"'  *""  »"•  ""b     ' 
so.    I  have  never  su  d  f^    th"   a^r  oJ  ""     '^^"'  "^  " 
oannot  begin  now.    Farewell    PM    ,   '7  ""*  y«'  »"<» 

trespassingtbusIonguDon  vi,'-^'      !•■  '"S'"*  ■"««<"• 
before  1,  happens  a^i?"    '^°""°"'  "«  """'  be  long    , 

wa":gnsa''p';ornt:i''i;a  W'  ■»"•    Sbesawhe 
sprang  ,o  her  gewle  ^^e^?**  "''P'^  ""^'fied,  and  tear.       . 

herZVn«." '' '  ""  "^  *-°'^'"'  «y.  as  ^b,  choked 
^torned  round  and  stood  ^.jng  ,„,„,,  ,„^^  ,^^ 


.  ^uuis  I  aear  Louis  !  foririv<' 


forgive  me  I  <}o  not  be 


.  T 
» J. 


.  \.- 


V. 


«-■■.-.  ' 


\: 


■^ 


313 


yA 


CEr^^STE'S 


TRIAL. 


angry  with  your 'Celeste\    Oh,  Louis  !  I  am  sorry  I  have  ' 
offended  you."  V™   ^- 

"I  am  not  angry,  Mi\s  fearl ;  only  a  little  disap- 
pointed.  You  have  a  perf^t  right  to  reject  me  if  you 
choose.  My  only  regret  is  that  I  should  have  troubled 
you  so  long.  I  have  the  honor  to  wish  you  good-day." 
-  And  with  the  last  bitter  words  he  sprang  oi^s  horse, 
aod  in  a  few  minu^s  was  out  of  sight. 

All  Celeste's  fortitude  gave  way  then  ;  and  sinking 
on  a  seat,  she  hid  her  face  in  her  hands  and  wept  the 
bitterest  teJrs  she  had  ever  shed  ih  her  life.  Louis  was 
gone,  and  in  anger,  believing  her  proud,  artful,  and 
fickle— perhaps  he  would  love  her  no  inore ;  and  her 
bosom  heaved  with  convulsive  sobs  ^  the  thought. 

All  that  day  and  the/Tiext,  and  the  next,  Louis  came 
not.     How  wearily  the  hours  dragged^  on  while  she  sat 
listening  in  vain  for  his  coming.     Takin|j  her  work,  she 
would  sit  by  the  window  commanding  a  view  of  the 
road,  and  strain  her  eyes  in  the  fruitless  endeavor  to 
catch  a  glimpse  of  his  tail,  elegant  figui-e.     At  every 
noise  she  would  start  convulsively,  and  a  wild  thriil 
would  dart  through  her  heart,  in  the  hope  tW  it  might 
be  his  footsteps.     Then  sinking  back  disappointed,  she 
would  close  her  eyes  to  force  bark  the  gathering  tears, 
and  strive  to  keep  down  the  choking  sensation  that  would 
arise  to  her  throat.     And  when  night  fell,  and  still  he 
came  not,  unable  longer  to  restrain  herself,  she  would 
hastily  Seek  her  own  chamber,  and  weep  and  sob  qntil 
utterly  prostrated  in  mind  and  body,  the  morning  wduld 
find  her  pale,  ill,  and  languid,  with  slow  step  and  heaVv 
dimmed  eyes. 

.^J"  The  morning  of  the  fourth  day  came,  and  this  sus* 
pensc  was  growing  intolerable.     Breakfast  had  passedV 
untasted,  and  suffering  with  a  dull,  throbbing  headache, 
she  wftB  nbout  to  quit  the  room,' when  the  sound  Of  ir 


im  sorry  I  have  * 


€gLESTa'^   <l^I4L, 


her.  eye,  and  new  J:T^.tZ^T  ""  "'"'  "^'"  ^ 

her.  as  her  '^^mo^K^^X^X.tT'  ^^ 

"  Here  I  am,  all  alive   like  a  h»t     /  d'sniounting. 
exclaimed  Gipsv   as   olth.  •     -u^  "^  grasshoppers," 
hand,  she  .^pe/wuf  he/S"  •"'''°^-''''''''  '»  "« 
garden  walk.     "  H^^  have  vouh  •'"■^.■"°"°°  "P  the 
My  stars-  how  pale  you  are^Z^      ""k  "«*'  •^"='«"" 

■•  I  have  not  been  ve^'el'l ^2 T'  "'"  "' '" 
Celeste,  forcing  a  smile     «?  !  P""  "^'''"  «" 

Come  in."      ^  '  *"'  '''"y  g'ad  to  see  you. 

threwSs^ "to i d.l  a^d "^  'f""^   «'"  «»g»n     ' 
gan  swinging  it  b^the  sWn"'  "^2^?^  ""■'«■ 
and  seated  herseU  by  the  Sow  ""'  ""'"S    . 

HaiUhrs'wLt's  ^ptr  '^h:""  "t-""  '- ' 

captured  Big  Tom  ?"       ^^'  *™  ^°''  ''=»'■<'  how  I 

^^^^^t^^,^^^-^  Gipsy 

such  stuff.  Big  Tomt  r'n  ^""-^-^to^s,  and  all 
from  his  wounds,  wm'ch  Is  ""IT  ""'1'^  "'~™""S 
should  be  sorry  o  think  hfd  tinTl'"""""^  '  ^°'  ' 
1  should  have  come  ov^r  ,  "°'*  *=  P""  "re'di.      - 

is  going  away  aJweV?,^  ^  '°''  ~'"'"^'  ""'^  Louis 
■     "Going  X  H-   echoed'  1^,"  «  "usy  as  nailers." 
pale.         *       ^•-     "''"'*•'   Celeste,    growing   deadly 

goi^^it^'n/if-Jrry  ■"'o-'^^    He  . 


V  '■?  I., 

im 


/  k- 


3^4 


■J 


■  t:  ^  '^  -  TJ 


CELESTE'S    TRIAL. 


M 


i  tilll 


But,  my  goodness!   Celeste,  what's  the  matter?    You 

look  as  though  you  were  g.QijigItaiaJLat,l!l™,.™™_-„.™-.„^ - 

'  "  It's 'nothing — only  a  sudden  spasm,"  said  Celeste, 
in  a  low,  smotliered  voice,  dropping  her  forehead  on  her 
hand,  while  her  long,  golden  ringlets,  falliiig  like  a  vail 
over  her  face,  hid  it  from  vibw. 

"The  notion  took  him  so  suddenly,"  continued 
Gipsy,  "  that'  we  hive  scarcely  begun  to  recover  from 
our  astonishment  yet.  It's  no  use  trying  to  coax  him 
not  to  go,  for  he  puis  on  that  iron  face  of  his,  and  says, 
*  the  thing's  decided.'  Men  of  genius  ahviaysare  a  queer 
crotchety  set,  ihey  say^  Thank  Minerva,  I'm  not  a 
genius,  anywayr— oherof  that  Sort's  enough  in  any  family.- 
Minnette,  too,  went  off  the  other  day  with  the  Carsons 
for  Washington — good  riddance  of  bad  rubbish',  I  say'. 
So,  when  Louis  g'oes,  I'll  be  alone  in  ray  glory,  and  you 
must  come  over  and  spend  a  few  days  with  me.  Won't 
you.  Celeste?"  t 

There  was  no  reply.  Gipsy  gazed  in  wonder  Jind 
alarfti' at  her;  as  she  sat  Mill  and  motionless^  a  ^§m'e 
in  marble.  ,  ,         •  - 

"  Celeste  !  Celeste  !  what's  the  matter  ?"  she  said, 
•going  over  and  trying  to  raise  her  head.  "  Are  you  sick, 
or  fainting,  or  what  ?" 

Celeste  looked  up,  and  Gipsy  started  back  as  she  saw 
that' white,  despairing  face,  and  wild,  anguished  eyes. 

"  You  are  ill,  Celeste,'*  she  said,  in  alarm.  "  Your 
hands  are"  like  ice,  and  your -face  is  cold  as  death.  Come, 
let  me  assist  you  to  your  room." 

"  Thank  you — I  will  go  myself.  I  will  be  better,  if 
let  alone,"  said  Celeste,  faintly,  as  she  arose  to  her  feet, 
and,  sick  aad  giddy,  tottered  rather  than  walked  from 
the  rooml  ^ 

.     Gipsy  looked  after  her,  perplexed  and  anxious, 

Well>  now,  I'd  like  to  know  what  all  this  is  about," 


41 


y:r'f  -^ 


~i 


T^SV- 


1  j<l  >   .»  -tViW/ 


■1/' 


;  matter?  You 
> 

1,"  said  Celeste, 
foEehead  on  hor 
Uiiig  like  a  vail 

ily,"  continued 
to  recover  from 
ig  to  coax  him 
>f  his,  and  says, 
iriaysare  a  queer 
va,  I'm  not  a 
h  in  any  family.- 
th  the  Carson s 
rubbishV  I  say', 
glory,  and  you 
ith  me.     Won't 

in  wonder  ji'nd 


ess 


a 


i*re 


er?"    she  said, 
"Are you  sick, 

back  as  she  saw 
nguished  eyes, 
alarm.  "  Yqur 
s  death.  Come, 

U  be  better,  if 
ose  to  her  feet, 
I  walked  from 

anxious, 
thiis  is  about," 


'■>    A 


J       t 


C£Z£ST£'S    TRJAL. 


315 


she  muttered  to  herself.    "Wonder  if  I  n«5c.  a 

suppose,  and  Louis  is  croiL     i^         !     ^  quarrel,  I 

none  of  my  businl.l    ^    ^  °^  *"  *  ^"^^^     ^^11,  it's 

«i    my   Dusiness,   anyway,   so  I   sha'n'*    5«»^  V 
Louis  looked  as  if  he'd  like  f,.:^  ^  interfere, 

him   what  he  was  Li„L  !n   ^  ""^^^ 
walked  off  wlthTtever^L      •   °  ""''^^"^   Celeste^  and 
guess  I  ^^^lZr:^TZ%^T^^  ^"^  ^ 

.well  to  poor  Celeste  I'll  TJiik-  ^  hasn't  behaved 
anyway  S^foreVe  goe^ '•  i^d  ^h^  ^?  '''  "'"'^  ""^"^ 
'^^-t:-^---^ -^^^^  Gipsy 

times  came  to  her  d^or^o\.  ^T  ^"''•°"''  ^"^  ^^^^^-^^ 
.oice  within  always  said  .'       ^  ^^""'"-"-e,  but  the  low       * 

leaZ:^  aU,L  "'  "'"'  '  "'"  ^«  better  to-morrow^n,^  : 

toytl^'M^nll^^^^^^^  ^'-  Hagar  was  forced        • 

-  Let  bS  ^hr wlst?;^^^^^^^^^       ^•^-ber  door 
est  sound  reached  herear    '  ^eath-not  the  faiqt- 

Oirly.  ^  raormng,  of  her  sable  handmaid, 

'ike  to  drop  when  I^eed  her  She  '  '^  ?°°^""^^  ''  ^ 
ghos',  wid- her  eyes  sunken  f  '^'''  ^^'  *^'  P^*«  ^^  » 
drefful'sick.  She'd  on  h..K  ^ ''  '''  *^'^^'  ^"'  ^<?okin' 
me  to  tell  youlhe  war \  '  ^"""l'  ^"^  ^^"^^'  ^"^  '^le 
needed  a  tJalk,ho„""fT^^^^^  '^-^' «h«       ' 

dat  ar  table-cloff."  ^""^  '^*'  J^*'  ^^  white  as 

J^^^''    «he  going?"    inquired    Miss    Haga;;"     '  /  ^ 


didn't  mind  lo  ax  her,  'cause  she  'peared 


m 


.J.  j 


v^I 


■'"-i 


It 


li 


i 


^i^''. 


1 


•    <r 


,A 


^- 


:- 


III   'll 


vm\{ 


ft   -'^ 


3t«  r  'cMlmste's  trial. 


'stress  o' mind 'bout  sorhefin  or  udder.  I  looked  arter 
her,  dough,  an'  seed  her  take  de  road  down  to  de  shorcj" 
replied  Curly.  -     . 

Still  more  perplexed  and  troubled  by  this  strange 
and  most  unusual  conduct  on  the  part  of  Celeste,  Miss 
Hagar  seated  herself  at  the  breakfast-table,  having 
vainly  waited  an  hou^past  the  usual  time  for  the  return 
of  the  young  girl.         • 

When  Celeste  left  the  cottage,  it  was  with  a  mind 
filled  with  but  one  idea— that  of  seeing  Louis  once  morie 
before  hp  left.  But  few  pbople  were  abroad  when  she 
passed  through  the  village ;  and  descending  to  the  beach, 
she  seated  herself,  behind  a  projecting  rock,  where,  un-, 
seen  herself,  she  could  behold  him  going  away. 

Out  on  the  glittering  waves,  dancing. in  the  first  rays 
of  the  morning  sunlight,  lay  a  schooner,  rising  and  fall- 
ing lazily  on  the  swell.  It  was  the  vessel  in  which  Gipsy 
had  told  her  Louis  was  to  leave  St.  Mark's,  and  Celeste 
gazed  upon  it,  with  that  passionate,  ^training  gaze,  with 
which  one  might  look  on  a  coffin,  wh^r^jthe  one  we  love 
best  is  about  to  be  laid.  -  Hours  poised  on,  but /she 
heeded  them  not,  as,  seated  on  a  low  rockV  with  her  hands 
5lasped  over  her  knees,  she  waited  for  his  coming. 

After  the  Japse  of  some  time,  a  boat  p^t  oflf  from  the 
schooner,  and,  propelled  by  the  strong  arms  of  four 
sailors,  soon  touched  shore.  Three  of  them  landed,  and 
took  the  road  leading  to  Mount  Sunset.  Half  an  hour 
passed,  and  they  reappeared,  laden  with  trunks  and 
valises,  arid  followed  by  Louis'  and  Gipsy.  .  • 

He  seemed  careless,  even  gay,  while  Gipsy  wore  a 
sad,  troubled  look,  all  unused  to  her.  Little  did  either 
of  them  dream  of  the  wild,  despairing  eyes  watchi^ig 
them,  as  if  her  veiy  life  were  concentrated  in  that  agOi\- 
izinggaze. 
\  "  Well,  good-bye^  ma  ^/fe,"  said  Louis,  with  a  last  em- 


^A,.^j,>.J^^| 


¥ 


'.  '■* 


I  looked  arter 
vn  to  de  shore/' 

by  this  strange 
f  Celeste,  Miss 
It-table,  having 
e  for  the  retura 

IS  with  a  miod 
•ouis  once  more 
broad  when  she 
ng  to  the  beach, 
ock,  where,  ua-t 
away. 

in  the  first  rays 
rising  and  fall- 
in  which  Gipsy 
Ic's,  and  Celeste 
ning  gaze,  with 
he  one  we  love 
id  on,  but:  she 
with  her  hands 
coming. 
|Jt  off  from  the 

arms  of  four 
:m  landed,  and 

Half  an  hour 
th  trunks  and 


eyes  watching 
i  in  that  agon- 

wiHh  aBift  em-i 


.^,^ 


^ 


I  ^'f-j-' 


»   #. 


CELESTE^S    TRIAL. 


*> 


317 


his  tell,  graceful  foraumirfh^  ^"'"^  """"^  «^'"K  »''«•• 
er.  and  he  ascend^  tl^'dt^^  '7'' 'ff'^^d  ""o  ^hoo„. 
:  the  fresh  morning  breeze  dot.;  i^"  ^"""^  **»?  '» 
a  mere  speck  1„  the  ^!'„  °       f\  ^  "■""  "  ^^^  ■ 
from  view.  *"*-"='•  "■«•  «»»  «r<'«<'  altogether 

rocCwL°en  tXtter'of'a  ^''T-  'T"^''"  '^«"<'  "^ 
cliff  caught  her  eye     With?         ^'^  ^'•°"  '«''i«d  a       : 
i»g  acroM  her  mfnd  she  an„,  ^^L  P^miment  flasl,.       • 
And  .here  .he  Sd  Cele«eT-  "^  «o  4«who  it  wal      - 
on  the  sand.  *-cleste,  lymg  cold  j^nd  senseless 


Hi'. 


■  *il  ' 

m<  i 

^■1'  ' 

^''^Etif ' 

^  'ms  '1 

'*■!  ' 

'ft 

"f*"- 
-,jiil^^ 


*; 


f^-. 


T 


1^. 


\ 


^  III 


k 


.-^    '" 


^' 


/ 


'  *.-'*'.. 


318 


'*THE    QUEEN    OF j^ SONG.** 


>       r 

V.' 


■■■■    i 


4 


l: 


I'll  I!:! 


mm 


•m 


-':) 


;>  ■■  ^ 


CHAPTER  XXXli 

^  ■  ■■  «  .'  '   . 

"the  queen  op  sono." 

•'  Give  me  the  boon  of  love- 
Renown  is  but  a  breath, 

Whose  loudest  echo  ever  floats 
From  out  the  halls  of  death.  / 

^i,?^'"^^3'«  beguiles  me  more  '"   . , 

Than  Fame's  emblazon'd  seal ;  . 

And  one  sweet  note  of  tenderness. 
Than  triumph's  wildest  peal."-TucKERMAW. 

f^^^'^^M'^^  ^^'^^^^  back 

to  Italy!    exclaimed!!^: distinguished-look- 

ing  man,  as  Loais-cft^:d^y  after  his  arrival 

m   Venice— was  passing    through  one  of 

crowned  city!"'  P'^'"'^^^"*^    ^''^-'^ -y  that  .palace- 

*.  J-^\^^  u^^'j  '   *^*PPy  '^"see  you!"  said  Louis,  ex^ 
tending  his  hand,  which  was  cordially  grasped 

We  f  ^^^r""  ^'""^^  ^"*^'^«d  ^^^  Italian,  as,  linkihff 

Wv7i^^"7°"  ?*^«  "«'  heard  our  'Queen  of  Song- 
yet  ?    inquired  his  companion.  ^ 
"No.     Who  is  she?"                                            " 

b«h!!]H°  """^^^  •  tf^'^P^  •  '^^  f°^^*^«s'  ^o«°an  you  ever 
S  a^^;;-'  -  nightingale,  and  has  e^iyhody 

'   "si^l?  '  i.^t^S^  ^'  '^^  "^""^  °^  '^  paragon  ?" 
-En!?f«h       i       Madame  Evelini-a  widow,  I  believe 
-English  or  American  by  birth.    She  cameherc  as  poor 


/ 


■\ 


r-™rri^ 


I:      I'- 


,•(-., 


'■■^:'7 


Vrcr." 


-  W. 


/ 


rnCKERMAN.  ' 

welcome  back 
iguished-look- 
fter  his  arrival 
rough  one  of 
that  .""palace- 

aid  Louis,  ex- 
sped. 

in,  as,  linkibg 
ed  toward  the 

snice  were  too 

een  of  Song ' 


man  you  ever 
as  .everybody 

5  paragon  ?" 
ow,  I  believe 
i  here  as  poor 


-'r'-  (:'P 


^  ',. 


,1  - 


■■>>•: 


'^riJE    QUEEN  "of    SONG.- 


'TTP 


as  Job  and  as  proud  as  r  ..,..•»„     »t   ' 
fortune  on  .he  stage    but  is  1";      T'  ^^^  ^  ■»««=  » 
men  at  Venice  are^lfai"  '?,  P?""  ^l"""-    Half  ,|,e 
was  ..older  than  she^   h  i  Jl       m  •'  ''"'  "°  '<="='"''^r 
love.    There  was  an  EnRl  s7r,f' t'°  "='™  ""er  into 
who-*ith  reverence  be  ?t  spoken  .    Ta""'  '°"e»S°' 
than  brains,  and  actually  went'^To  faVZ  f„    """■*  "°"'=^ 
ai«Ke;  and,  to  theamazement  of  hiL  >f     P™P'««  ■»"• 
^se,  was  most  decidediv  TnH  u     '*"  and  everybody 

"Awonderf:?tol''n''ia''::''^"''"'«^" 
crown.     When  does  she  sing?"        '  "^^^  »  <""<=«' 

•"  wTtrptsu«"  rookTu"  "  ■'"  T  »""  "«"  her." 
woman  that  is  ."  ''•  ^"Sa^-wMt  a  magnificent 

^-^adtn^'l^elVtZ^j-tr- -ar.  speaking    ■ 

"Come,  we'll  join  her     I  have  tL  T     '"'"     ^"Sari! 
quaihtance.     Take  a  Jonrf  i     ,  ?'«»«««  of  her  ac- 

«  she  does  noIt:trfy^r;Xs  "  '"  """•  '""^  '^"  »" 

wert^ap^rrhfn  ™'  S^f  ^S'  ^TT"   '''  '^"^  '"'^      ' 
With  an  «xqui,i.ely.propoTtton.d  «    ^'  ""^""^  "'«"., 
but  somewhit  mekncMy  [ace  !h»H^H?~'''  '■"""'  '"''■. 
pale-brown  ringlets     11^1^'    ^f'"'^' "  l^°'"'i!°n  of 

'air,  with  dark-bue  eves  a„HT'"''T  '^''^  "q-isitely     •   ■ 
tures.    As  he  gi^ed  a^tr,^     beaut.lully  chiseled  fea- 

™en  that  face  SherrbeforeTV!f "'■^' "«"  "'"'«<• 
"  Well,  what  do  you  tWnk  '«?  h^  ,""°'^''"  "''"^ 
■  "using  him  from  a  reverie  int„  ^l  .  f  '*'''  ^"Sari, 
'       « That  she  is  a  veTlovelv  w  '\"'*'  '"'"■>«• 

one  opinion  about  th«  "        '  "oman-there  can  be  but 

'•How  old  would  you  take  her  to  be?"    ' 
Qo,  iniDossible  1" 


*« 


9<" 


:  .«-^'^\ 


r^*- 


't:r:' 


•i-y*, 


'.iw^. 


•■'/•■■ 


:'*;A''*^  '  '-''  -rT. 


V*.. 


r  •-'•.' I 


't 


3"      -     •«  'the    -QUEatf    OF    SONe." 

"Pact,sir;  I  fetd  it  f^m  her  own .  lips.    Now  rn 
sent  vou  :  hut:  mk*.^,...^^* .  *^     a^ow,  i  ij 


I      I, 


-,..  ,..„|  ,».,,,■, 


/■ 


1* 


-  y'<- 


i«- 


Ijw    '<  ' 


smile,      s. 

tn!i    ?  °'  Loiw^  she  had  gazed  as  if  fascinated.    Every 
i^     /°',"  "°*y  ^"<''=''  f™™  h"  face,  leavint  W  ' 

voil'^'^  *""  T"  "^rr  »he  aslced,  ia.a  brea'thlej 

-«0°rrnroreV'''4'''r'"'"'o**  ""heeding  their  look, 
tJ^nmore!    Surely  not  Barry  Oranmore  ?" 

Louif"  """  "y  '»"■"'»  «""»*."  'epli^d  the  astonished 

A  low  cpr  broHe  from  the  white  lips  of  the  ladr  m 
h«  hands  flew  up  and  covered  her  face.    LuUri  and 
Louis  gazed  ,n  each.othaV's  faces  in  consternS     She    ■ 
draped  her  handle,  if  s,  and  said,  in  a  Jo^h  J^'   • 

.h-lf  ""'^  "I"  ^"«'oJ>.  Mr  Oranmore.    Can  /teve 
the  pleasure  oja  private  interview  with  you  ?- 

■  *':•'  •    ' "'  ""y  residence  in  the  Palazzo  B-^,  this 

_a ; 2fc I f_: ^ . 


'A  >  . 


in. a  breathlei 


ng  their  looks 

lore?". 

the  astonished 


•*■'! 


y ....... ,.^;,: 

"THE    QUEEN    OF    SONG*' 


ir 


3ai 


darlcasycTur"  """  '    ~"  ""•  J'"  '^^. 

.  .J'?*"  ''""."°'  ''*™  '»"™  in  lo»e  with  him  .Iread,  ■• 
s^d  Lugar,  i„  the  musing  tone  of  one  speaiSig'tTht. 

Louis  laughed.  *  "    '  : 

.  roSu'^;  LiM  •:  '"'""°'  ^^^  succ^  „^„ 
_  "There's  no  accounting  for  a  Woman's  whims  •  and 
he  s  confoundedly  gogd-loolcing.-  went  on  LuZii  W 
the  same  meditative  toae.  ^"gari,  m 

"Po.^"''^  I^"'"*"'"*'  »«"«of3^"r  nonsense^"  «aid  Louis 

J^n^t   Mf'J°,  ™y-^t"dio,  and  spend  the  morS 

with  me.    It  will  help  to  pass  the  time  until  the  houf 

for  calling  on  her  ladyship."     .,  "«"*  we  hour 

They  soon  reached  the  residence  of  the  artist     fh* 

tZ^rll^T  '^^  ^""^  '^  ^  '^^^  <^^  such  sligu^^ 
beauty,  that  Lugari  stared  at  him  in  surprise  and  ad 
miration.     His  s^6rt,  crisp,  blaok  curls  felfover  a  brot 
of  snowy  whiteness,  and  his  pale  face  looked  oaleri^ 
'"«  wLrfi'  '^:^^'  melancholy,  black  eyel   '  '"  ^^^ 
WeU,  I^ore,"  said  Louis  kindly,  «  has  there  befcn 
any  one  here  since?"  *     "»»  mere  Defen 

^   "No^gnor,"  i^^plied  the  boy,  dropping  his  cvi» 

"a tinZr;  T^'^""  '°  »^^^<^»«^^>  ashe'^nft  the  p?^: 
*ratin^  gaze  of  the  stranger.  .  f^uc 

lia^air""-V''°'  ""°-    ^''"«f  *'"«•■">  Ci8»«i^«d, 
The  boy  did  as  directed,  and  hurrjeyfrom  the  room; 


^1 


*  'I 


'1.  V 


'      i  Art 


,,:i 


M. 


<# 


vt. 


(    >, 


I  -■ 


in 


li  lilllii 


32« 


"rzr^  QUEEN  OF  sOng:*^ 


V  '^Handsome  lad,  that,"  said  Lugari,  carelessly.  "  Who 
IS  he  ?" 


He  /V,  as  you 


*  ;H. 


,      "Isa/Jore  something— J  forget  what 
say,  remarkably  handsomp." 

'      "  He  is  not  a  Venetian  ?"       '  -      '    '         ;, '     - 

;_  ^  « $Jo ;  English,  I  believe.  I  met  him  in  Naples, 
friendless  and  nearly  destitute,  and  took  charge  of  him. 
Have  a  glass  of  wine  ?" 

Lugari  looked  keenly  in  the  face  of  his  friend  with  a 
-peculiar smile,  that  seemed  to  say  :  "Yes— I  understand 
It  perfectly  ;"  but  Louis,  busy  in  lighting  a  cigar,  did 
.  ,  not  observe  him. 

The  morning  passed  rapidly  away  in  gay  conversdT- 
tion  ;  and  at  the  hour  appointed,  Louis  sat  in  one  of  tlie 
magnificent  rooms  of  the  -Palazzo  B— ,  awaiting  the 
entrance  of  the  singer.       .     ^ .  :  ^     ij 

^  She  soon  made  her  appgaiilce,  quite  bewitching  in 
blue  «ilk,„but  looking  paler,  he  thought,  than  when  he 
had  seen  her  in  the  morning.  -a 

'     "I  see  you  are  punctual,"  she  said,  holding  out  her 
hand,  with  a  slight  smile.     "  Doubtless  you  are. at  your 
wits'  end  trying  to  Recount  for  my  singular  conduct." 
"My  only    wonddr  is,   madam,  how  I  could  have^ 
.  merited  so  great  an  honor." 
.     "  Ah  !     I  knew  you  would  say  something  like  that  " 
said  the  lady.     "  Insincere,  like  the  rest  of   your  sei 
^ Well,  you  shall  not  be  kept  long  in  suspensd  I  have  sent 
«.  for  you  here  to  tell  you  my  history.*' .    • 
^,      TMadam  T' exclaimed  Louis,  in  surprise.     Jl| 

"Yes,  even  so.     It  concerns  you  more  nearly,  per- 
.   haps,  than  you  thinks    Listen,  now.'^  ^>  *^ 

She  leaned  her  head  4n  her  hand,  and,  for  a  o|>ment 
secured  lost  in  thought ;  while  Louis,  with  eager  cuiri* 
•dsity,  waited  for  her  to  begin.     - 

*      "I'amlrishbybirth,"shesaid,  at  last,  looking  up- 


n  .- 


--^'^^  ■  ■  __' 


pl_«^^>   y" 


M 


THE    QUEEN    OF    SONG» 


I  was  born  m  Gal  way.    My  father  was  a  poof  farmer, 
.    ,and  I  was  his  only  child,     I  grew  up  a  wild,  untutored 
country  girl ;  and  reached  the  age  bf  fifteen,  knowinir 
sorrow  and  trouble  only  by  name.       ,  ■ 

"My  occupatlon/sometimes,was  watching  my  father'a 
sheep  on  the  mountain.  One  day,  as  I  sat  merrily  sinij. 
mg  to  myself,  a  horseman,  attracted  by  my  voice,  ro|e 

-up  and  accosted  me.  I  was  bold  and  fearless,  and 
entered  into  conversation  with  him  as  if  I  had  known 
him  all  my  life-told  him  my  name  and  residence  ;  and 
learned,  in  return,  that  he  was.  a  young  American  of 
respectable  and  ivealthy  conjiections,  who  had  visited 

;    C^al  way  to  see  a  friend.        ^ 

J*  From  that  day  forth;  he  was  constantly  with  me-^ 
and  I  soon  learned  to  watch  for  his  coming  as  I  had 
never  watched  for  any  ofte  before.  He  was  rash,  darinir 
and  pH|si(?nate  ;  and,  captivated  by  my  beauty  (for  I  was 
handsome  then),  he  urged  me  to  marry  him  privately, 
and  fly  with  him.  I  had  never  learned  to  control  myself 
m  anything  ;.  and  loving  him  with  a  passion  that  has 
never  yet  died  out,  I  Consented.  I  fled  with  him  to 
Jingland.  There  we  were  secretly  wedded.  He  took 
me  to  France,  where  we  remained  almost  a  year— a  year 
of  bh>s  to  me.  Then  he  received  letters  demanding  his 
immediate  presence  iij  America.  He  would  have  left  me 
behind  him,  and  returned  fbr  me  again  ;  but  I  refused 
to  leave  him  ;  I  therefore  accompanied  him  to  his  native 
land,  and  a  few  weeks  after— one  stormy  Christmas 
live— my  cjhild,  a  daughter,  was  born. 

"I  never  saw  it  but  onccf  The  nurse  must  have 
drugged  me— for  I  have  a  dim  recollection  of  a  long 
long  sleep,  that  seemed  endless  ;  and  when  I  awoke  I 
found  myself  in  ^  strange  room  with  the  face  of  a  strange 
woman  bending  over  me.  To  my  wild,  bewildered  !«; 
quiries,  she  answered,  that  I  bad  been  very  ill,  and  my 


;?■ 


2i 


'•%4 


'^1 


sA*     >dA 


■', 'K';f..    •.■'5.     '     ^.^''^ 


■■.:;"i 


■K-. 


•   r-.' 


3«4 


**  THE    QUEEN    OE   SON&:r 


life  despaired  of  for  several  weeks  •  h»t  fho*  t 
recovering      I  aski.rf  f«r      ^^7^^^  "^"^  ^Ha*  I  was  now 

*  icnewnotSng^cy^^J'^hT^  *:?^^r?  ""'  ^^"^-  S^. 
there  in  a  carriage  a^^^^^^  ^  *^^^  ^«^"  *>^o»Sfit 

she  could  not  re^^niz!  h!  '  ^  *  "*^"  '^*^°'«  ^*^^'"^es 
paid  her  liberanXt.^^^^^  He  had 

.      to  return  to  see  me^Vff'vf  ^LT  °'  "''  ^"'  ^^""^^'-^ 

•    ^othiLT'/^u!^^^::?,-^  wisdon,,  and  suspected' 

petted'^hildr^asTh^'fc/Th '"' ^'"^' ^*^ 
kind  to  me,  thougk  I  .Iw  she  iookL     ''°'"""  '""'"^^^ 
sort  of  contemns    fL  T^^^  "P'^'*  *"c  with  a 

J.  w  contempt,  the  reason  of  which  f  a\a  ««*  *u 
understand.     Still  qK*.  »«  u         \  *^"'*^"  ^  aid  not  then 

fonnightl  wa'a'i'wtirevr'  "™  °'  "^  ='"''  '°* 
feached  my  ear  from  the  adjoining  "oo^     wuh",  ™"=t 

My_flrst  inquiry  was  for  niy  child  ^       ^.^ 

here;    No»  tiat^'  l"^,"'  °~*''*'''  '°  ''"»8  y- 
come  wUhle  •    ^  ^^''  ^°"  must  leave  this  ind 

.nd;f w'uCot  S"e^::^^'„r»'tea  °",   ""''''«**^ 
• ,"  He  made  no  J,^27,l  ,  ^"'^  '""'''''•«'• 

l»«e;    l«.fewmomenriwas,^".T  "1  '°  "»''' 

"^^^  '^"J »  a  carriage  at  the 


■V,:;::::,-^.-.:^,,:^.    ■. 


.■>-  i.  •"■•.. 


:(>« 


/ 


"TIf£    QVEEJ^   OF    SOATGr 


^^pTdiy  a:a^"'*^."r'--  "•^■.followed,  and  w.  drov. 

turn.'  ™a.  jou  are  always  wishing  to  t%. 

^  i  Wlr"'  ^^'"'  ^-  "'"  yo-  "o.  r  ,  asiced. 

stopped,  and  -y  hnsSret^'re^o"'' ''' '''"''*• 

-cdfa^te"::^::-^?,;  :eL^«  t- ;  ^i  ^^  ».• 

I  readied  tije  deck  ahrt  „.  ?     '^    S;  m  tlie  liarbor. 

furnished  cabin        T       *"  '=°»''ucted  below  to  a  well! 

to  "^''I'^'xk:^::^!:'-'"'^^'  -»'  ->« 

few  hours,'  ,id  my  Xb^A    »°  T"  '"*  ""P*"'"  '"  • 
bjow.     His  ?o,co  w^s  ite  agitlT^^^^^^^^^ 
his  face  was  deadly  pale  AStni  f         '•  "^  '  """'"^  »« 
entered  my  mind/l'^as  iSi^  ?'"jP'"''"  °' '"^ '™rt  - 
"gaging  myself  fromThetms*    h^.  il""'  r"'^  "'^ 
j»rtiog  embrace,  I  threw  mvsLfVn      ;[".'*'*  ■"<>  '»  » 
"inutes  was  fast  asle^;"  M^Tstendf ,  '^'  T '"  ''^**' 
went  on  deck,  and-I  I.XTS^"^"!^'^  ^^^^  "'^ 

hande^'d  re"'Cr"!  'IL^T^^^  ""»  ^bin  and 

'orfivethousanTrol.a'rsTc.rou^'u'AT'"     * """ 
ey«  wete  fixed  in  unsoeak.hl!  h  \'""'  "  °<»*  :  "r 

"ords  before  me.    '""'P«"'"'""'orror  ^  ,he  dregful 

-''"^^^nJtl^Z  2^T^  H\toldmeth«- 

bride,  andTha.  ZT^f'T^L  iu'w^'S  '"-"•" 

'«>'n(l,whe„h.  lM,p«l7wouTS^fI°rK''V'^''y"" 

•^  '  would  foiget  him,  Vnd  look 


■A' 


>j.  •  i\ 


■  i^\ 


'^ 


./H 


'Bl 


f   * 


m 


>\    K:' 


^    326     .         t*T^^    QVEBN    OP    SONGr       /         • 

V  Xr  fronf be  '^''''.  °"'^  "'  "  '^^"™-     ^  '^^^  '^^t  terrible .  ^^ 
/  letter  from  beginning  to  end,  while  every  word  burned 

€^^^    hy.7lU\  '°^^^;^"'»«  *  temperament  to  do 
could   not   rLT        ''I'P'l^^  ^""P^^"  '  ^  ^^«  ««°ned ;  I 

feei"-.t';L"'i'^^1  L°"''-  springing  fiercely  .0  hi, 

morer  *''''"/ ^"''~'"  ^°"'  '""""'-of  Bany  Oran-: 

deaSy  "w^'^'Tier:    '"    "*''  >«>— t^cken    and 
hoarselyTv  ^      '   ''"'   *    P""^*'    "•«"    he    said, 

"Gieon."  .  -Si         -  •':  ^-  •  \  ';-■ 

W  J'i  1?}^"  "*! ''°"  ^-''*'  ''°'"'S«  passed-it  is  all  like  a 
dream  to  me.     I  readied  Liveroool     Th.  ,»„.  ■       t 

had  b^n  well  paid,  had  me  ^Xyed  Ib^e  f  ^a„7;tan    " 
lived  and  moved  ii^e  one  who  lives  Z   '  i        ' 
stu,>Or  of  despair,  and  month7p°as  ed  Jay  befort  l'« 
cohered;. when  I  did,  all  my  childishiesf  ted  pas^" 
•  '"^?' ?»"  •  "»»  '»  heart  and  mind  a  wo.^an.         '^  ' 

£h,  J™*  *""'*"  °°-     '  '""'  '^^  '"  «■>  American  pawr 
W  bCteTthl"'  "'"  ""-"usband-s- dreadful  d'S 

,  '^^oliraitoffr^et7ir'.t?d'  '  ''«"" 
vc«ew<.ldmakemyfort„i.e  on'fhe's;:;e'°'LT„Vr 
this  hint,  I  went  to  London,  had  it  cultivateH  «1h 
learned  music.  At  last,  after  iears  of  unrSn'^"" 
plication,  I  made  my  debut.  It  was  a  tri,,™!!  j^  ^^'  . 
tr*sh  attempt  crow'ned  me  wifhTew  TaZV" ?„«{ 
v...tej  Fmnce ,  then  I  came  here ;  and  h.r^  1  have  S 

IIMIIIIII     -■ Mil      - ■■— Ill    I     I  I  — —  .ii.ii.iii  I     .— .,— I,..-,...-  — .—  « .I..I-  11—.  —  ,,-.■.■—■.„■    ».,— 


V 


'iiy  Hli[n  III  <8mi'I<'i''IH'iiiii||  ' 


t.   r..  V* 


'w\ 


327 


■■■'■•  *.  327 

grave  had  given  up  itrde^d     sil -"^^'^  ^"^"^^^^ 
word  true,  as  heaven  hLj^e     wts'l^r^^^^^^^^ 
I  said  it  concerned  vou    mZ.    ^^^^  °ot  right,  when 
aginedr  ^°"    '"^^'^e   "eaHy  than  , you  in,- 

|lid  K^^Hgr^  "^"^  °>7^ther  such  aViUainr- 

verted  to  Celeste  •  andT5  !.?°"^'  *^'^  thoughts  re- 
her  fate  ni^ghr^aW  been  hT^^'^  ''°"^'^'  ho/slmilar 
him.  \      ^"^^  «>een,had  she  consented  to  grb.  with 

^     "And  was  ^our  child  really  dead  ?"  L  •        •    ^ 
a  pause,  during  which  she  .17„ -^w  u    ^  »°q"»red,  after 
on  the  floor.    -He  may ^^^^^^^^  her  eyes  fixed  sadly' 

other  things."  T  '^^^^"'^'^  >^°»  ^^  that  as  in 

"  I  know  not,"  she  ahswered  •  «  vet  T  h,        , 
a  sort  pf  presentiment  that  it  sH  11  ^v  ""^  always  had 

would  but  permit  me  to  UL  i^:!^:-,  ^^l'  ^^  heaven 
happy !"        .  .     "  °®"°^o  her  alive,  I  could  die 

««"g.lr  W  some  o„eV  have  s"™'  K ',"'  ^"T"-'' ««     " 
your  face,  vaguely  and  in*s.i„c,tv   al"''     ^"""f^""" 

8embling,youJelse«rhere  "  'T'.''"*  »«»  'O"*  one  re- 
to-night  ?"  °  ^"^^  '"'end  hearing  me  sinjr 


>■) 


■  -  N 


'1 


J, 


,    V 


one 
once 


K  -  ■  .  ■     4  ■  '  *  I  '^^^ 


I 


■A 


"1^ 


\'- 


• 


-  •  ,  *  *  \ 

3*8         "  A    STARTLING    i)isCOpERY.*'        "51 


. 


I 


'iiii 


\H 


H'- 


■J  - 


"Battery!  flattery!  I  se<j. you  are  like  ail  thc^rest,, 
said  Madame  Evelini,  raising  her  finger  repi^ringly. 

"  Not  so,  madam  ;  1  never  flatter.  And  now  I  regret 
that  a  previous  engagement  renders  it  necessary  Wme 
to  leave  you,"  said  Louis,  taking  his  hat  and  riiint  to 
leave.  |  "     • 

"Well,.!  shall  expect  to  see  you  soon,  again,"  she 
said,  with  an  enchanting  smile ;  ^nd  Louis,  having 
bowed  assent,  left  the  house;  and,  giddy  and  bewil- 
der^ by  what  he  had  just  heard)  turned  in  the  di- 
rection of  bis  own  Residence.  ; 


»»  .  I 


»•'■., 


CHApAr  XXXIII. 

•  /  _  , 

.J     .     /      •  ■     V     ,     ■      ■ 

A  STARTLJING   DISCOVERY. 

"  Fixed  was  her  look  and^tern  her  air ; 

Back  from  her  shoulders  streamed  h^C  haitl^ 

Her  figure  seemed  to  rise  more  high^; 
I  Her  voice,  Despair's  wild  energy 

Had  given  a  tone  of  pi»phecy."— Marion. 
'  1'    ■.  "^ . , 

EEKS  passed  Hw&y.  Lo 
visitor  ^t  the  Palazzo^ 
intimacy  with  the  beautiful  "  Quee^.  ol 
Song  "  was  looked  upon  with  jealous  eyes  by 
her  ni^merous  admirers  f^and  many  were  the 
rumors  circulated  regarding  her  affection  for  the  hand- 
some young  American.  But  MadameEvelini  was  either 
too  proud  or  too  indifferent  tp  heed  these  reports,  and 
visited  Louis  in  his  studio  whenever  she  pleased,  leav- 
.  ing  the  world  to  say  of  her  what  it  listed.  Louis,  too, 
was  winning  fame  as  an  artist,  and,  next  to  madame  her- 

: -■  ..  '  /  -,,.,-.,  —    i...- i... .■J--:.,. .... ■  ■  ■  ;- 


became  a  daily ^ 
His  growing^ 


H 


)  ill  I 


■•i' 


^Ci 


*h 


A.  SrARTLING    DISCOVERY, 


'/ 


329 


scl^was  becoming  one  <,f  the  greatest  celebrities^ 

c  /"^"f,**'""^^°™«*»<»y  that  attendant  of  yours  is'"''' 
said  the  lady,  one  day,  to  Louis,  as  Isadore  quitted  .the 
room  ;  «al|  Who  visit  you  vie  with  each  ^hT in  their  • 
praises  of  his  beauty." 

--Y"Who?    Isadore?    Yes,  he  is  handsome ;  but  a  most 

singular  youth-silent,  taciturn,  at  times  almost  fierce 

and  at  pthers,  sullenly  morose."  ' 

^     "  He  seems  to  have  a  stroiTg  anti^pathy  to  ladies,  and 

to  me  in  particular,"  sa/d  Madame  EveHni ;    'heloks 

^*  Yes,  that  is  another  of  his  oddities  ;  in  fact,  he  is 
quite  an  unaccountable  lad.'*  ' 

hk^J'  ^^"^  nnidh  attached  to  >^«,  at  all  events.     If' 
he^re  a  woman,  I  should  say  he  is  in  love  %ith  v^^u 
and  jealous  of  the  rest  of  us,"  said  madade!  SugS 
hr^'   J''  w*^?  °?^  ^"  *^^°""'«<^  ^°r  by  il  -nZre  o^*    ^ 

Louitsoon  had  a  moist  convincing  proof  W  the  li^'s 
^  T^T^'  ?t^  ^-^^--^  -e  -e^nrng,  bytme  busi- 
clis  i^  °vt''.  '*'t°*'^''°^^  ^°"'ts  infiabifett  by  the  lower 
H^LS^I?*'"'  ^^  returned  with  n  violent  headache. 
Hegre^  worse  50  rapidly,  thatbefore  night  he  was  itf  a 
high  fever,  raving  deliriously.  , 

A  physician  was  sent  for,  who  prdtoounced  it  to  lie  a 
^^Z":"""  "r  '"'^^^^"'  fe?er,.ana  advisJd^is 
Wr  If^""  'r°^*u^  *  hospital,  where  he  might  receive 
better  attendance  than  he  could  in  his  lodgings  But 
Isadorepositvely  refused  to  have  him  remicS  vehe 
.u&orl2/'^^''^'^'"^-"  was  quite  competent  I 


•K-^3 


l\ 

Al  I 

-m'\ 

.** 

vL'\ 

1 

f  I 

^ 

i 

V 

II 

n  la 

)*l'll 

¥- 


I^ 


nit'    •* 


Fi!    '.  - 


330' 


"STARTLrNG    DISqOVERY. 


his  b„r„i„^broT„r^^^^^^^  1>».  side,  bathing 

feverish  lips.    At'dThoueh  hf/  T';"«  "'^"S'"  '«  "'! 

aft^  day.  Ld  ht 7,  trs\''ucr«e^?or:r  ri"  ""^ 

.      ness  with  his  weary  viciU    nmhfr    '°'«  ">«'■•  bright- 

from  that  sick  room     Wt,^  "l*"'!*  '"".W  «emp,  him 

the  pillows  bene»^  .k  Womanly  care,  he  arranged 

drewVcL'^in"'^  f.  lu'de'tre  'TaV'  .'-"t  '"^"^  = 
unheeding  the  dano^er^f  „.*•«'«'«•  '"''"j 
vigilance,  too,  he  IcenTL.  In    .   *^"'"-     ^'"''  J«*'°''« 

came  to  see  him,but  she  wai  mef  '""*«'  ""™edialely  '■ 
.     Isadore,  who  said,  coWly  ""  ""*  """^  ■■•«"»  "r^ 

-  forbiJdTni"""'  "^  """'  '"»*'-"^'  the  physician  ha. 

o^i5::^^t^x^s;„---spea..,- 
<.ore,~a:j::rrdtd"::rtheVo;m  r^;""':  -'"  '- 

door  in  her  face  °"''  '^'''^  shutting  the 

'  Cellste!t.r^e^;^':;;;J-'-  -ked  iaces^tntly  of 
with  him.  At^ch  timl  ^  Tf  *  vehemence  tp  fly. 
would  knit,  andbl  e^'"*  fl'A'''":''.  """^  <"  ^^'"^ 

.  beneath  theiV  lids.     BuMf  hi!'""""  """"^ri-e   fire 
his  beautiful  face  wouW    i^h,  "T ""'  ""''"■'ed, 

look  of  light  and  joy   that.""  "i""  ""="  »  "<«»« 
.1.  h»  p%  watcSgt^  u:crn'/car'"'""^  '"^ 

tender  IZ-^g'of^r/:^^' f;™"^  ~-"««'<'».  and  the  • 

Louis  becamf  co„vlLre„T""Tnf  tl^'h^r^'  "'«' 

reaUzeallheowedtotheh^;     iTI  ..i  °  ""  '>*Sa»  to 

aagel  during  hllltlne!'     °^  """"^ "»-  "''e-ardian- 

"How  cam  ever  repay  you,  i«do„,.,  ^^  ^j^  ^^^ 

-"  li        ^  I  '   ■  •     — —A. — '— — — _ — : 


it' 


m  \      , 


'A 


"SRY, 


re  tlian  he  did  v 
s.  side,  bathing 
Iraught  to  his 
frew  paler  day 
t  their  bright- 
d  tempt  hi  in  ' 
h  he  arranged 

the  invalid  ; 
light,  totally 
W'ith,  jealous    ^ 
Madame  Eve- 

im mediately  ' 
uier  room  by 

hysician  has 

jpeaktohim, 

e,"  said  Isa- 
shutting  the 

Jessantly  of 
nence  to  fly, 

of  Isadora 
dering   fire 

mentioned, 
»  a  radiant 
>pensed  for 

>n,  and  the  • 
isease,  and 
began  to 
'guardian- 


A  STARTimo  Discovery. 


said^ 

one 

.'■  m.\      »  .- 

i 

.:i 

1   u^ 

day,  asthe  youthhovere^^by  his  side,  smoothing  the 
tossed  pillows,  and  arri^^ging  the  bed-clothes  with  a 
^  skill  few  nurses  could  hive  surpa^ed. 

^'  I  wish  for  no  returni  sigtior.    I  im  only  tooliappyA 
to  have  been  o^fs^ervice  tp,-  you,"  eaid  .t|e  boy,  dropping  ' 
nis  eyes.  '  '       /  i' 

/VWell,  at  least,  you  will  find  I  am  ibt  ungrateful. 
Once  I  am  well,  you  sl^all  no  longer  remain  a  servant. 
I  will  place  you  in  a  fair  way  to  make  your  fortune  " 
said  Louis.  ,,::.  * 

"  Signor,  I  beg  you  willj  not  think  of  such  a  thing 
I, have  no  wish  to  leave  yoii,"  said  Isadore,  in  alarm. 

"But,  with  me  you  will  dniy  be  an  obscure  servant, 
while  it  is  in  my  power  to  jLlace  you  in  a  situation  to 
become  honored  and  wealthy."  ' 

"I  would,  rather  remain  with  you." 

"Strange  boy!  Why  are  you  so  anxious  to  stay 
with  me?"  \  ^ 

"Because 

"Well?" 

"Because  I  love  you,  ^i^nor,"  said  the  boy,  while 
his  whole  face,  a  moment!  before  so  pale,  grew  vivid 
crimson.  - 

Louis  looked  at  him  in  surprise. 

"And  what  have  I  done  for  you,  that  you  should 

love  me  so  ?"  he  asked,  at  letigth. 

"  Do  we  only  love  those  Who  have  conferred  favors 
upon  us,  Signor?" 

"Well,  generally  speaking,  among  meirit  is  so.  If 
you  were  a  woman,  now,  it  would  be^ifferent."  said 
Louis,  laughing.  _  \L^        /      >        • 

"  Would  you  love  me,  if  I  y^e  a.  woman  ?"  asked  the 
boy,  m  a  tone  so  abrupt  and  startling,  that  Louis  gazed 
at  bim  in.wouder.  *=» 


=it 


Not  uiuie  tiian.  1  do  now.    .One  cannot  love  two 


,~*f 


*/s 


i^:*,:; 


'/.•  ■ 


^7. 


''i'mrA 


■■•■■■  ■•".■. 


^^^^, 


P 


"^iW!*; 


j,i*  ■\"*' 


^    STARTLING    DISCOVERY. 


P.-  -  '.i,' 


Lu_fc_ 


X'.?."'"-*^  you  .m  find  „„,„,,„  ^„„_^^^^ 

There  was  no  reolv     I  „  •  '''"''^  '''^■ 

so  that  the  bo,  could  L,  t.     .1  '"™"'  '''''^*  "stlessly, 
----And  Isadore^aUr  ha  °L7''    ^'  «P'-*«io"  of  his  fai 

^   ground.  ^  ®>®®   steadily   on  the 

». Louis  now  rapidly*  rernw*.r«^    «    j    • 
:    W«able  to  resume  ifisZesn^^  '-a  short  time 
;  .  Tiew  with  Madame  Evelf^    /he  r^r/.'"f  k''  """"^f 

i  ''^.^-p'-cebe.wee:^!;:^^,::^!"" -""•""" 

"     than  tI^eXcia"„-s7'"^  "!  ""' "«  <=««ainlj,  other 

»y  dear  Lo'^l^s  o„irort:''s':^:pted";''-     "f  ^'• 
should  turn  out  to  be  a  fZli- • '"!!"''«'  ■'  yo"r  Isadore, 

~vo«sostronelvo?i,i  u'*''^'''"-    His  conduct 

romantic  pass  "n  fo7vi    '  ". "«'"  """^  ^-ceived  . 
•owiagyorThothrh;^"  .'",''•"  ""»  ""»'"  of  lol- 

ihing^friflUgt  tlm'^r^sheronht,  "i"".*"'  °* 
•og  to  confirm  ihis  opinion      hT^  Z  }     '"""'>  «*"''• 
hat,  bade  madame  a  has  »  ?,;       „    '*"•*'  "P- «'««"  hU 
.full,  resolved  to  df"ovet^';i?*'V'"»'«''"''°°"^ 
her  words  were  true  '"""ediately  whether  or  not 

pictnrion  the  -!^f^";,*'"'<»' fl«nd'sh  with  hate  upon  a 
oi'ii<i.»ul6^TtJ„ZT^\^''r''  "'  Celeste  a,  a 
wounded  bitd*  No^ord^c^n'n  '"'"•i^  ''^^  ^"^slng  her 
hWfrrt  with  whictZ  hll^'^j;,'!'"'*  *''«  ""ofc  tf  lioirc 


*IHl  Whioli  tte  buy  wg«ried  it. 


Il- 


r<T    'iS 


ivhen  you.grovr 


-  ■/    - 


. »  • , 


^    STARtLTNa    pJS^OVERY, 


f.-J*^^^"'  isadore,  you  seem  struck  bv  thar  na{«*^" 
Did  you  ever  see  a  sweeter  fare?-'  ncu  ^^t      •    Pa»nting. 

looS  u^"  '°'""'"'"  »"'^''  I^'«'o'%boarseIy.  wUhout 

grateful  of  men,    he  continued,  almost  with  a  shri.t 
«>^l\t^^2'l  T  '2-  "■"'K™'""'.  »„d  with  feat„«s 

"Merciful  heaven!  Minnetter       / 


'■■J^ 


n 


'  ^'    i 

•*      -  III 


'     '. 


*  > 


'» • 


•  f 


T' 


/% 


i, 


■  i- 


^^m 


334        *         ZIGJIT   IN    DAHKNESS, 


-/-'•T' 


'V- 


-,^' 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

__      MiGHT   IN   DAJUENESS.       ^  ^    _  „ 

"  Bythe /strong  spirit's  discipline—  ^ 

«y  the  fierce  wrong  forgiven— 
^i  ^l!/*"*^  wrings  tile  heart  of  sin 
is  lyoman  won  to  Heaven.  "^wIlus. 

lERE^^as   at  moment's  Vrofound    silence, 
dunng  which  Louis  stood  lireVnethund^- 

%k'  "'^T  ^°"  have  been  with  me  all  this  tim#. 

"Miniiette.  d<^  not  look  so  wildly:     Good  heaven'i 
'        Minnctte  who  s^o6d  before  him.  ^        ^ "  '''^' 

_.    ^or  me,  for  m^!|wretcA,,^at  I  am  !"  he  said  wifh 
bitter  remorse.       '(^y  Minnlir«  r  t  said,  with 

devot4Nove.?^      ■      ^  Minnie !  ^  unworthy  suci, 

Soifi^hing  in  jhis  manner  inspired  her  with  hone 
She  clasped  her  hands,  and  said,  wildly:    ^'  ^"'^  ^^P^' 

will^  T  "^^  ^°"  *^"  "^'  "^^'  ^«  <>«•     Only  say>ou 

fT'ilu  T  t''^  "^^'i  ^"^  ^  ^^"  ^^  ^  thousand-fold  rJZ 

^     foral   I  haveendi^re^l  for  your  salce.  Oh,  Louisiis  it  J^r 

thecdd.prnd.sh  ^elestc  y;u.cjUt.udi  love  as  ;^;niy 

We  cannot  ^ompel  our  aflfectioiis,  Minnette.    Cc 


j^*-'' 


ed,  in  a  voice 


>>: 


t  r- 


'■►J- 


LIGHT   m    DARKNESS. 


335 

you  must  throw  off  thuT      ■  *  *'  »  dear  sister. 

hom>«,,„eSly     Vol    '^"?'  ?""  ■■"■"•"  «"■"  ">e 
Tthis^Tey  do  not  dream  »o.r1f  """  """-'know  of 
learn  to  look  bik  tT,hi^-  ^''^  "'"'  >'°"  ""'  soon 

pily  past.^°  ,  -      '°  ""'  '""?  "'  »  "-""bled  dream,  hap- 

Louis  oi„m*rnX/°hIll  r"^'  ""''  ^'"="'-     N* 
I  have  hated  her  kuTv  uf*  •  "*h  '"'?  '""^''  "  '■■i"n'ph ! 

".ylaitbt^ath  ;6oyouthiak°I    '  \f\-  "*'"'  '"^^  """ 
this  disgrace?   YmTh^t-'i  '^°'''''  "™  and-survive 

behold  Kits  •■     '"'"'"'"^«»  ■»«  'o  -adness  .and  now 

eyes^iiVntg  ,re%t"heTtrrr<' p"^^'- '  ••- 

she  spoke,  she  drew"  on. "i^-:  .fd  "n"'  l!""-     *^ 
■gleaming  dagger.    As  the  qu  cV tVof  l'  '^' "'°™  " 

sT  :;:;g^,rmTd.';[or  r  A^^-"^^^^^^^^^^ 

Minnette     ThI  f  .  7^    ^""^  broke'from  the  lips  of 

Lo:"-t  sUgg  S tff  and'r'?  J™"'  '"' "^^  "' 
alvzed  with  Wror   ^  /    •  I    "''   '""^  *  "<>■"«'  Par- 

round  .tetJm,  he  blood  JI'.V  "^r'  "'""«'»  ^^ 
eye^nd  covering t, fie1,efaj:;"f  Z™""  ■•"  '«•>"«« 
the  house  resouhd      I,        ''«'^»g»""='ns  screams  making 

specuoie./rorstoodZt:d"t:te''r'"i- '■•'•»'"■'« 

-n.ave  his  gaze  from  .heTe.^bi:  s^hf""*  "'■'""^'° 
Her  piercing  shrieks  soon  filled  tlfe  ro^m 


Jhe 


vT- 


■   "'It 

'  >;i  - 

.    Vf 


J. 


66     ^  oiaaiy,  w^  borne  to  her  room  ahd  \m  iipo^ 


*f,'?S 


<  H  a 


0 


336 


J-fG^J^    /k[l}A^XAr£SS. 


\<      *  ^     4*» 


room,  unabltto  eddurrihe  b,rr      ?^."P'"'"^^^ 
nette'sfaeonv   ,17^,  ~i    harrowing-  sight  ot'Min- 

■     anddowf  ^';i'«"  J7"^'  »'  '""'  hours  he  traa  „p 

and  remorse  :  4  thoM  ,.,„  h    '  '"''**<''«'«  Ws  anguish 
*gesof  suffering  °  '"'""  »«»<^  ePnpeMmted 

^    ^^llme.    he  exclaimed, 'vehemenUy.  "isshe-wi,, 

■  whi;  t'^,^::i;°'.:fj^"  ^"ea  .he  docto,  ;,h;  ,^ 

Mortal.     She  m!f«  be  Jken?"     J"  f »««"«».  <>«  »ot 

mediately  remZd 5^om  here  ."''    .  '  "'"  ""'*'•"«- 

'■Jl^!;  Go^r- ■*'"  "~*^''"   -'"    Louis,  fjrvenfl^  i 

W'^tLil"'"  '^<""'^"  ^"^  'Oe  docto^'heiuUog" 

"  Great  heaven  r  '    . 

«n.teful  thS  her  life  will  bett  J,"L''J°"  '""""^  "» 
geon  toolc  his  hat  and  left       P'*''*''*^^  -And  the  sur- 

•'.i^'wtL"i:trth''or;?""''^r'^ '-''--' 

tnanoeath.    Oh,  M.nnette  I  Mi^n^tp  ,.. 


^!:  *--.{, 


+  ^/*f'  ■ 


;i  ^ 


y>  "i?  she— will 


nettelay.     Itwas.nirini    T        ">«  ^om  where  Min. 

city.  Two  moS^  had  p^:^'tnl  'r"'""°»'  °'  '"« 
on  which  we  saw  her  11^1  r         ""'  ""'"'PPy  ^ay 

-nUsht  fnUing  brighl^'on'ht  "::„"°C"  .t '^f ' '".' 
sunlight  she  will  never  see  more  AS?!/  """  ""'^^d 
with  holy  face  and  meek  eye."  Us  L  ^''"'"J^^cy, 
one  of  her  hands  in  hers.  by  her  side,  holding 

And  this  is  Minnette :  this  naU  f.rf.j     .1. 
the  once beaa^ful,  haughty  resale 'rflrt,'*''''?^^'''' 
her  beauty  was  gone  nf»..h!'^'  Minnette!    All 

health  resets  no  fonger  on'  thosetoHol  "'T"  °'  "'S" 
the  fierce  light  of  passion  wK«"more' Lt?''  •" 
those  dimmed  orbs  ,  from  those  poor    oarii^f.   J™"    • 
s«..hmgwonlscan  never  more  fX'  Rnf  ,u^^  ^L""' 
this  outward  wrecic  shines  a  cXer   holl^  he/T^V"  • 
ever  rested  on  her  face  before     I „,h,         ""'^  """ 
been  pjirified  •  the  fiTrt,^     ''  ""*  furnace,  she  has 

duedby  gr^e'-  the  lin^'^l"""'"*  'P'"'  ''"^  "een  sub- 
Lamb  th!  ^a's  slain     /h"         ""'"'•*  ^  y'«'<l«d  «<»  'he 

•onging:<j::^rp^:- -™.  -nd-w^.^  ^„.,, - 

can^'-^,°^-^:!!-.'^"-'".herlilness.Of^n,; 


yet !"  „  Her  wilcTm^  i  ""^  ^^T^ISrot  yet  r^^T 

-  with'^hi^rnrh:^<'i;'^rer 'SL'T"'' 

.""^'""•."Po-'i-  meditation  and  „r,l.r„ '^!. ^J"' 


now,  were  SMnt :,.  _,  Z-     ."""  °'  ".^eieste.     Her  days. 

'«.h;,enT.:^;rr;oisrofTs.rSrr;""-'"« 


•■4  1 


33^ 


\ 


LJQMT    IN    DARKNESS, 


inc'Z^t  '"^°  '"  '^"'°^'  ^^'^^*''  ^'  ^'  °°'  ?"  sJ^e  askfed,  turn- 
"uldsee        '^"^^^^''^^  windows,  as  though  sh^  still 

*^  Yes  ;  a  more  gloriiKis  sunset  I  nevet-  beheld  " 
And  I  can  never  see  it   ipore;  never'  behold  the 

aX  ' 's:rd  M°'  ^'^ '  "^^^^^  H^  ^""'  °^  moon,  or'stlr 
again  !    said  Minnette,  in  a  voi^  low,  but  unspeakably 

n«v!l^  ""^  cAud^  but  ther«  is  an  inivard  vision  that  can 
never  be  seen  with  corporeal  eyes.  Now  that  those  out- 
ward  eyes  ^re  sealed  forever,  a  glimpse  of  heaven  has 
been  bestbwed  upon  you,  to  lighten  the  darkness  of  your 

f  J T^'' 'm '''f  ^'^'"*'^' ^^  '  wei«  always  with  you,  I 
feel  I  could  submit  to  my  fate  without  a  murmur.  But 
when  I  go  out  into  the  world,  this  fierce  nature  that  is 
Trise  °a"nd  'l  'n  'k '^"'^  '"'  ""'  co.^^^.r.^^  will  again 
^f^/t^n  eJ:'"  ^^^^-  --P^-nate,  selfish,Ld 

"  Then  why  go  out  into  the  world  any  more  ?    Whv 
not  enter  a  convent,  and  end  your  days  in  peace  ?" 

Oh  sister !  if  I  only  might,"  said  Minnette,  clasp- 

Zih't'h  "^''  "but  I,  poor,  blind,  and  helples^,  what 
could  I  do  m  a  convent  ?" 

"  You  could  pray,  you  could  be  happy ;  if  you  wish 
to  enter,  your  blindness  shall  be  no  obstacle,"  said  Sister 
Beatrice.  •^•aici 

;'  At  this  moment  a  servant  entered  and  handed  the 
sister  a  note,  addressed  to  Minnette.  She  opened  it. 
and  read  aloud  ;  4'^"^"  u, 

"Every  day  for  a  month  I  have  called  here,  and  you 
have  refused  to  see  me.  Minnette,  I  conjure  you  to  let 
me  visit  you;  I  cannot  rest  until  I  have  seen  you,  and 
obtained  your  forgiveness.  Louis!" 


LIGHT   m    DARKNESS, 


^      f  ■ 


339 

"  No,  r  will  not !  I  win  JT,^    '  **''""«""y : 
"Why  not?"  said   si  °    J  I«'"«"5eehimn.drer 
child,  rl.a.  vanity  l^n  h'?;    ^"^-    "Confess,    my     '  * 

arfdesirous  of  Takinl 'the  vaH  ?,  k""""-  ^s  you 
should  see  him  and  hfn  h^    ,  '      "  ''"'  "S""  "-at  you 

yon.  f Hends  wl^^.e^'t'sThfr "SoC '  "^  "J™  '■"°™ 
cast  out  this  SDirit  of  nrirfl  j  ,  *'  ""y  dear  child, 
onlytoramorn""'^     *'""•'  '"  ">«  admit  him.  if 

one  hand,  she  said  :  '^^''^'^'  **"'  ^"ti^^m^  her  face  witL. 

"Be  it  so;  I  will  endure  the   hnm.u  *•        v^ 
come."  •  '"®  humiliation ;  l^t  him 

validfrdltlre  ^m'"'  A  m"P'  '°  '^^  """  °'  ^  - 
pale,  thin,  and  careXn.  en1e"d  •  He  Tl  T^  ^°""' 
a  shade  paler,  as  his  eyes  feU  o„  ^^J'^"'^'  »""  S"" 
robbed  of  all  its  beauty  and  Jd.  »  ''""'  P*''  '»'^=' 
sank  on  his  knees  by  th'e  bedside:"'  *  '"""^'T^  «««"^ 

you  evJr?o"^iveml"r ''•'•■'«'  ^="<'-  "^-^'y- •   "i=a» 

vain^effotfto  s«.  'SsTl'-r-'^rr''  him,  in  the 

oul.  one  little,  trans^ren  hfni      t  f  "'k""''^    ^^^  "«'d 
both  of  his.  °'P*"°'  '■""d,  which  he  took  between 

«.«'hX^d^r.^'^'^-'^  """'y-  "An 

Y    f  >"°c°  to  me  I  deWved.    Oo  not  grieve  for 


-i,,*^ 


«'.^ 


if'-' 


340  LIGHT    IN    DARKNESS, 

rae,  Loms,y6u  have  nothing  to  reproach  'yourself  with  • 
,  It  was^l  my  own  fault."  %        ,     J'  "'^*«5"  witQ, 

^  He  bowed  his  forehead  on  her  hand,  and  tears  ^hat 

.     ^''l*?Tn°,^'^  S^T'o-  ».»eart,  fell  from  his  eyeT'— ' 

^-.leac^leste,  when  you  see  her,  how  sorry  I  am  lor 

all  my  cruelty  and  injustice  toward  her..  Ask'her  t^for' 

ulZ'tilT'^  "'"^  gentle,  I  feel  she-willdoit 

ind  Ohio  •    f     r^r^^  ^^^^  '^  could  die  con^nt; 
And.  Oh  Louis  !  when  she  «  happy  with  you,  will  ^u" 

^  '  ;;Oh;f^rMi^etfer'hesaul,in  a  choking  voice; 
;^°°«tP«y,'<>e,LQuis;Iara  very  happy-buithe 

-  s:^  t^rfwas  r^i^'vi^'^  ^  -^^ie^^aX::^ 

was  wfien   l   was  full   of  liftf  and  health      Oh   t«  • 

«Ifish.  and  hard.heaned,46d  erucl-I  tremble  Tthiofc 
what  I  might  yet  havebetn  if  God  in  his  mere,  Lrf T„. 

tell  how  IW  wronged  her.  Vou  Know  how  I  struck 
her,  in  my  b hnd  rage,  and-lhe angelic  patience  and  for.. 

g.«ne«wi,h  which  sl«atowa^rdsougir,olo"lt^r 
and  make  me  l«ppy.  ol,  Louis !  ail  he?  sweetness  and 
meekness  will  haunt  me  t6  my  dying  day  "      ""'*'  *'"' 

Uer  voice  faltered,  then  entirely  failed,  and  for  the 
first  ..me  m  her  life  tWonce  haughty  Minnette  wept 

T  l^re  are  strange  visitors  to  these  eyes,"  she  said 
W«h  a  sad  smile ;  "there  may  be  hope  for  me  ^et?  sfnci 
I  can  weep  for  the  past.    Louis    in  a  few  weeks  iTill 

'X  rr*"''  r""  """"""*'  °*  "^  irsha  r;' 

triends.    And  nowyou  must  leave  me-rfatewell    a  last 
farewell,  4!|arL<5ui,.-    Tell  them  all  at  home  howl  have 
learned  to  love  them  at  Jast.  and  ask  thL  ,7r      • 
ppor  Minnette."  '^''°' '"  ^^g'"  • 


■.V,:, 
_j;~- 


^' 


■  i 


■::l 


yourself  with; 


.  ■'  ■     V       •   •  .        ^    .    ,  -    '  ■      ■■    -   .     .    ;  ■■  J- 

.        .    ;     T^£   PEATH-BED    CONFksSfON^     \^ 

_   He  could,  njtispeal^;  she  made  a  siffnfor1iir,iV« 
Raising  the  thi^n,  palejiand  to  his  lirft  and  "T.^^     ^''' 

denouement  ihere.  "s*"^  raa«ers^.to  a  rapid 


■  '.\ 


.> 


y,. 


...       *       .  >  .*  ■.  ■■ 

'  THE  m^T^-BEp  *C6nfeSSI0N. 


A   f 


.   •  V     ■•Wi.ho,„,„a.gu4ro5''^^^?^i^™.,.'     *     .' 

I    «eek  before  Christmas.     A  bright  fire  „».  , 
t-rn.ng  .n  the^weH-koown  parlour  JZZ: 

'  :  •,"  '*P-  '^P^'i-'B  »ft"  the  oares  of  the  day     Dr  T^  '" 
I       man  had  not  vei:  «!iiffi/>!««»i  *>  "*  mc  aay.     Ur.  .Wise- 

^       »"d  bruises  trlrS^aTrS''^ '™"  '■^  ^""""^ 

..  al'^'JS'bau"  i:rX^e''''"'-  *"'  f-Joylog  herseif ' 
The  worthy  trio  hori^o*: i    _      .. .  '# 


-^.-.jj' 


\  "t 


34» 


TITB    DEAra-BED    mNFESSION.. 


,         oie  mar^ttr  •mediately,'!  ^  commanded  to  see 

"  WhiM^s  he  «*„  r't  C^^,  T"''  J"   ^"'^^'•ne-t. 
"He's  got  a  letter  'a„H  "'°"  ' '«  anybody  to-night." 

says.     Well,  here  he  comesi"  "'"'"''•'  *=  Solomon 

journeyed  fast.  -      y^^^'^  '"dence  of  having 

boj;^;.:^,^;f;«  ^^'-'00,  I  believe."  said  the  lad. 

niy  nose,  till  I  overhXl  IhU  H  ""'  ^^  P"'  '^^"^  o° 

tains    state.treas<^T^^T""°J-     ^^^-^e  it  con- 
'ThepenismiffhtLthfn  T       '   P'°'  °"  something. 

though  ni  be  sfoti  tii ':  r  s '', "  ^°^°"°"  -^^ 

much  about  s«.ord^;  and  aald  "*  ^^^'^'"on  d^n't  knoW 
(behave  well  to  his  Wife  t^et  1^  »  '*'™«'»'»es^idn't 
Voes."  ,    ^"®'  ^^^^  say.    Humph  !  well,  here 

thdy  threatened  to  shoUfr^^^^^^  '?  ProtruC^Sl 

J  better  ran  asfollow^ 7  ''  ^'^^  altogethei^    The 


.../■■■ 


THE^D^TH-SED '  CONFESSI^}^. 


343 


peniX  -T°-  *""«  '°?'?,»"y.  <«•  you  ^^y  re. 

— 1^  ,~  V  "   .         -jr'-   Madge  Orammore."  '^ 

reading  this     "C^Hnl    J       ''*"''^'  ^'  ^«  ^^^shed 

j2;^-^do^u  ,„o.  Who  s^t  yo:  j;;^  i^^^s 

'  « Is  "k1!"^u"^'''^'^  ^'^'  Oranmore."        ^ 

She  has  been  ailing  for  some  time^'  L/r      . 
her  illness  took  a  dangerous  tnrn     ?k  '  ?    *  '^*^*'  ^^To, 
has  but  few  days  to  ifve   fni  Ih'         ^  ^°'^'°'"'  ^'^^  ^^^ 
^,  atout  sotne  se/ret  ^U^^^l t/r^d  '^^^""^ 

haste  "  ^^'  ^?^^'  "»^«s.«  you    make 

don't  know  what  to  say  abou""  "  °°  "''  ''f"'  ' 

house,  «lut«l   his  ^"^Th!*  „^"'  :!PP5°«"»S  ">« 


J<.    :■ 


next   moment^   c^'p^ 


-V 


^Bi 


I 


344 


i 


•>. 


THE    DEATH.BED    CONFESSION, 


wrapped  up  in  shawls,  and  hoods   ahH  f,.,^  T  ^     I- 
-  bngh.  as  a  daisy,  danced  in.o  thet:,  '^^'^X  ." 
siupifaffti     :S.oTfg[?'''n    T"-  b^"  wa.  a  Torrid 
home."  Xre   carchiL     •  K  "";  '°.  '  "«'"8'«  ''"  <=°™e 
favored  hta  ^ith  '  s/^!  ^'S*"  "'.  "■«  »«™"ger,    Gipsy 

.      '--Herof  t^e^Te^Urir^dr  "'"^^'~"  '" 

-"  ■  '  •<  A 1.    •  ,       .    ^  "  '°  ""^'P  ■"?  out  of  it" 

--       All  right ;  just  hint  what  it  is,  will  1„  j  ,„h  lm 
have  you  out  of  it  in  a  twinkling  '     """/O"  ?  and  1 11 

letter1:tX"''  ''"'''^''''"'  P'"""*"""  ■"ysterip/'^ 
■^Wen^'th?^^"**^"  exclaimed:    .  /  -    * 

to  &0  on  such  a  journey  "      ^^        ^  ^'  ^^P^^'  °^« 

Li.  can't  traZandit^^^  ^""^y 

and  Aunty  Gower  noL  tom  °  r ^ '''!*  ^'  thesanietitne  ; 

then^  can  go.  ^.,,  ^em:^^i|::r^  ^  |^  "T  ^ 

board  ,used  to  say.     EhlGuardy?"  *  ^^^''^' 

;;  Yes,  yes.    But  what's  to  be  done?-  ' 

^^  Why  ,t  s  very  clear  what's  to  be  done.  VZ/go '" 

you,    said  the  squire,  with  a  star*.   «  ivi.«.        o  * 

you  do  ?"       ■  ®^^'^®-      ^Ynat  good  can 

"Come,  now!     I  Jike  tha^  t     tmi  i 
body,  if  r„,  not  worth  the  who  «  of      ""^  "  '"  ''"y 
Ain't  I,  now?"         "'*'"«  Whole  of  you  put  together. 

...Well.  „  she  don-t,   she'll    lose  .^wisest.  nic«t 


^ 


"Ki 


youPjand  I'll 


le  mysteripi 


»»  ■  -  ■ 

'.  ",       .,:    -^'ii.'" 

sest, 

nicest 

';.    >'  -■       ,   ,.;;r'^ 

•^ 

^-^'k'.:      ;' 

1 

^^^    O^^Th/bed  '  COtiFESSlON.       j^j 

<*«»•*/«/ confidante  ever  anvbodv  jIm  .k       i.  , 

Any  way,  I'll  trir -.  and  if  ch-        .T?:  ^""Sh  I  say  it. 

asked,  turning  to  .!«  yo„!l^    .^"'"H"  ^o"  «art  r  ie 
'•V^^/'i'  '"'".■"'  'ff^'"  «l^'f«l  ^e  lad.     '  /'         ■ 

:K^sS«^:.^H 

Hadnt  you  better  stay  till   nUi-ninl"/     Ij  f/" 

Go^anrioosly.   ,"  It /s  ,00  coldtld  ?  ^  "'"' 

by  night."  /   .       ^"^"^«»asti 

"And  in  the  meantime  this  oldi 

ghost      No;   there's  no  time  to  1 

rather  hke  the  id/a  of.  a  journey/t 

ydf  St^MJrk's.  /ood-byeill-I  L 

f  *f  5'rt'  7^**  *  parting  flourish,  _ 
and  t9ok  he/place  by  thf  side  ^f  tW 
Nothing  remarkable  occurred  on  tfe 
comfprtabry  nestled  under  the  buffal^  ' 
the  cold/  The  next  morning  they  h^{u 
inn  to  t^ke  breakfast,  and  then  dashed  olf  m 


my 


-/•  "-6  -^^  i"c  aiatc  oi  tne  roads  it  Wa«  iaV«  ;w'  *u 

Dassed  ,.„  ,1,.  1  J  .  P^  '  internal  ctimmint  as  she 

l^Txf         *°"^'  ^"^  staircaie,  and  ^.nger  darker 
lon«rand";*L^'"  ''=''-™<'«'  °f  Mrs.  firafm^rt-^" 
m!!   inarfand        d"-    ^"'^''«'  °- ""earse-l^e 
<le«^itavMad~  A     *'"•  ''\""»'gh  she  were,  already  - 
'V  M;jdge  Oraomore-her  f«:e  l<toking  like  some 


^y  to  travel 

feiye^pthe 

jhd  besides,  I 
bp  monotony/ 
M^sipi^ 
'  ibe  room 
mpsleighJ 

rarcely  felt  • 
a  waysiqe  . 
:aii^.  ■    ■  A  ■■  '"■ 
e  ii/the 


-,Y- 


--:^* 


.  1,1/  ...  . 


iti 


>" 


i^" 


I!  I 


:_    346        THM    DEATHBED    CONFESSIOI^.      '     '' 
grim,  stern  mask  carved  in  iron      An  «ij 
%bo,addressed  as  ■■  ™„:h^'°^,,f"4tSr' "'■'"• 
fooliLt        1  ""•■■'""'  "'"'""y  "'"«   ="'"»d  of  their 

r   —"Has  become?"  " 

■'No;  lie  is  ill,  and  could   not  com<» "  c*.;^  o- 
stepping  fo,„„d.     "Heisunab^    o„:;,k''^te 
come  I u  his  Stead."  ^  ■'    °  ^  "^^® 

■•  Wel?  ralir/'d  ^"'^^'i'^'^-  0«"»ore,  sharply. 

"The  saints  forbid!    I'm  telling  you  the  truth    ,h. 
whole  truth,  and  nothinir  but  th.  m-.h      i  .'      * 

up  one  Chrisfnas  eve,  nfneteU'^e^^  ago  onTheS 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  hire  •  anT.'p^?I  h-         I 

whafs  the  matterwith  vou  '"e:^tZ'nS^^       "'^'""' ' 
back.  ■>°''-*'«=»"ned  Gipsy,  springing 

sprung  upttrtd'',:ifh'h "''"'''"'  "^'-  °™»"'°« 
»ok4a'sshetirly;:ream'^.'^*'  starting  from  their 

your     '" :~^''""'  °0^™"?'    "'O  '«  not  drown 

'"Why,  no;  I  rather  think  not— 'at  I^c^  j/t 
downed.  I  have  no  recollStion  ofit     Bu     L?"  T 
ness  !  don't  glare  a.  me  so-youVe  abso^utoiThf^- 
enough  to  make  every  hair  on  a  bodvl  h!^H  ^i'f ""' 
pendicular.  with  those  eyes  of  yours^^  '  ''**"*  "^^  ^'^ 


^,f:- 


THE    DEATHBED    CONFESSION. 


347 


m      How  were  you  saved  ?"    Answer  me  that !    How 
^^'t^V^^f^'\  *^*'"  sc'^ea.ned  the  excited  woman. 

Well,  I  don  t  recollect  much  about  it  myself;  but 
Mrs  Gower  told  me,  the  other  day,  that  she  found  me 
rolled  up  m  a  shawl,  on  the  beach,  like  an  Esquimaux 
papoose  asleep  in  a  snow-bank.  I  haven't  any  notion 
who  the  he  IS  you  speak  of ;  but  if  *he'  left  me  there  to 
^turn  into  an  icicle,  I  only  wish  I  could  see  him!  an^  tell 
nim  a  piece  of  my  mind— that's  all."  ' 

"  And  this  was  Christmas  eve,  nineteen  yeai-s  airo  ?'» 
exclaitned  Madge  Oranmore,  breathlessly. 
^ "'  * cs.  -., . . 

^^" Great  Heaven  !  howjust  is  thy  retribution  !    And 
at  last,  in  my  dying  hour,  I  behold  before  me  the  childof 
Esther  Eriiston  and  Alfred  Oranmore  !"  exclaimed  the     ' 
dying  woman,  fallrng  back  on  her  pillow,  and  claspinir 
her  hands.  ^    ^ 

«  Whatr  exclaimed  Gipsy,  springing  forward?  anl^ 
seizingherby  the  arm.    "Whose  child,  did  you  say  I 

■  was r  ■•  '  .     .  ' ~>^-       -  -•■  ■ 

"The  only  daughter  of  Esther  Eriiston  and  Alfred 
Oranmore  ;  aod  heiress,  in  your  mother's  right,  of  Mount 
Sunset  HalL"  replied  Mrs.  Oranmore. 

"  And  gfPandchild  of  Squire  Eriiston  ?"       '  '  - 

■   "Yes."..;;-;,  .;;.■-    -.:'■  :-^:'  •••;■; ;       ■■;;■:,:..;<;;■■ 

Gipsy  staggered  back,  and  covered  her  face  with  her 
hands.  Her  emotion  was  but  momentary,  however  •  and 
again  approaching  the  bed,  she  said,  in  a  tone  that  was 
pe^ectly  calm,  though  her  wild,  excited  eyes.^poke  a 
different  tale  :  •*^ 

•*Tell  me  all  about  this.  How  came  I  to  be  left  to 
perish  on  the  shore  ?"  m  ^    - 

"Leave  the  room,  both  of  you,"  said  the  sick  woman, 
tor  her  attendants.    They   obeyed.    "Now,  sit   down 


I 


'te 


/ 


.Vjtr*«rf!p 


/-: 


>><• 


.•s.. 


beside  me,"  the  continued,  turninir  tn  r  j'         a    •       ^ 
me,  are  you  manned  r^*^'  ^^^  '     *°d '^11 

Oranniore,  in  a  y„ice  of  horror  exjS'aimed  Mrs. 

»aI''B^ulVr7o;'Si„t;o'd'''''"i"'""«<''''«°'<' 
on,•^  urged  Gipsy^         '^'°«^  "',^°  '""'  >-«"•  "o-T-    Go 

"  Child  !  child  '"  <!aM  *u^  a  •  ^ 

.       *es;  he  heard  it  a  few  wppL-c  k..<- 
ricd,"  said  Gipsy,  in  a  voice^tht  u  ^^  ^^'"^  "»r- 

natural.  "^ "-^  ^'**'  ^^^  hoarse  and  un- 

" '^^^en  he  married  you  that  hf'm.VkK  i# 

Sunset.    Oh,  the  vilJainv  of  rh  .        ^^  Possess^ount 

beware  I  for  the  d^y  of  rerrih  r-    ""^^^^^       But  let  him 
"  Tell  m*.'«ii  f  /-etribution  is  at  hand" 

A  en  mean,  from  the  be^inninp- "  «!^  n- 
mg  herself,  mid  soeakinor  ;„      .    ^'    ^-     Gipsy,  seat- 
face  as  firm  and  rtid  aftiat'of"?.'  "'  '?^'^"'  ""^  ^'^^  » 
,    self;  b^^those  eyef-lho  J  ^''^  ^""™  ^"^*"d  her- 

Thel^^  muT^^  eyes-how  they  blazed  ! 

^  Gipsy-^slft  reS  o"y  vlhatX'^r^r  ^^^  ^^^^  ^°^^  '°     / 
the  death  of  Esther  hvL-  feader  already  knows:    / 

a..a  .He  lof j?:?;[<f^.tHrr;:;^r  "^.^^  '^■"^^ 

w.ve!;TP?a:h'v/r  °".'^"'  s.ore..hi„H„  the 
■no-e,  "wiien  you  Were  nrSn.-";';'"''^"''  """^  0™»- 
Almighty  power  tfat/uardedT^'-™^ '''''''' '»»«' 
bulrushes.    I  supDiled^^!.  1 1     "''*  '"  ■•"  '"<"«  <>< 

bu.  .he  ^oni:z!t^:;^'rt^rzf^-^^r  "'^ "» ' 


i 


-TT 


SS/OAT, 

psy;  "arid  tell 

i  Wiseqg(Jin." 
x^laimed  Mrs. 


# 


her  feet— her 

-.;tjg.      ...~,-l.       .i','^ 

'.  Oranmor^ 

i^e  wer<|inar- 
rse  andl  un. 

ssess  Mount 
3ut  let  him 
f."  , 

Gijjsy,  seat- 
and  with  a 

n valid  her- 

lazed  ! 

tale  told  to 

idy  knows; 
Ais  hftnd ; 

nlcing  the 
Irs.  Oran- 
r  the  same 
cradle  of 
so  did  he  j 
>r  what  I 
;  sleeping 


'&^- 


irried  that  old 
►uritoiy.    Go 

faintly,  **jk^    v 


- 

rir£    DSATH-BED    CONFESSION. 


349 

or  waking  the  last  dying  shrieks  of  Wsther  Oranmore 
have  been  nngingin  my  ears.  My  son  marrie^S 
Erl.s,o„  ;  and  his  vi_^l|Mdea.h,  Js  but  ThetgiJ'S 

coinpels  me  to  reveaP|pi„  beyond  the  p'werof.W 
■    t«^^:T,  ""^-'f  #^"imes  .,  the  bar Tf  G,^ , 

"But  he  shall  not  esiape  !"  sali  Gipsyi  risinir  from 

o  the  «  ■  °°  f^''  k"  '^^  "  "■  Purified  whi^ufenZ 
to  the  story  of  her  b  rth      "  Nn  f  k«  »i,1  k  ««^«""g 

usjboth.  hi^  life  Shan  ^ay  for^bis  ^  W^m^a^^s^  r 
Hued,  turn,ng  fiercely  upon  Mrs.  Granmort^"  Jo^'^ 
-jdjeunta  you  have  done  justice  to  the  child  of  tr 
yo.  have  murdered  !     I  will  send,  for  a  maeistrate    ZZ 

ll  of  ra'due'r"  ""'  """  """'  ^^^^-^  "-e  gal- 

ghe  sprang  to  the  bell.-and  rang  a  S^that  brouirh. 

aU^he  servants  in  the  house  flocfing^iM!;;^  i^fh  * 

,h,  h      '"u""!  "/*■■"'  magistrate,"  she  said,  turning  to 
,ny .  vanish!    Tell  him  it  is  a  matter  of  life  and  death 

^       The  h^  fl'^\''''t'"  ""■  ">i»«"es.oryoi.  shall  ruVTtr 
The  boy  fled,  frightened  out  ^  his  wits  by  her  fierce 

'Zt  r    '°°"-    f  ""'"8  •"•«  door  in  the  faces^^  tte 
others,  Gipsy  seated  herself  ;  and  setting  her  teeth  h»M 
ogether,  and  clenching  her  handvshe  fiid  h™  on 
^e  floor,  and  sat  as  iintaorable  as  if  turnhig  ,o's"„e 

Ere  fifteen  mioutW  had  thus  j^e*,  the  boy  re- 


'M 

\  ^1 

«» 

^  \ 

,>  y     : 

, 

:.•  A 

}-4 


-TT 


I:- 


.350        THE    DEATHBED    CONFESSION, 

turned,  accompanied  by  a  magfSate-a^^shdrt,  bluster- 
ing,  impo-rtant  personage.  He  bowed  to  Gipsy—who 
arose  upon  hir  entrance— and  began  drawing  oflf  his 
^  gloves,  makiiSg  some  remark  upon  the  inclemency  pf  the 
weather,  Vhich  she  abruptly  cut  short,  by  saying  • 

"This/ woman  is  dying,  and  wishes  to  njakfc  a  depo- 

_    smon.     ^ere  are  writing-materials ;  sit  doWn  and  com- 

-  mence— you  have  no  time  to  spare."  , 

Hurried  away  by   her  impetuosity,  the  little  man' 

found  himself,,before  he  was  aware  of  it,  sitting  by  the 

bed-side,  pen  in  hand,  writing  and  listening,  with  many 

an  ejaculation  of  wonder,  horror,  and  amazemeqt. 

At  length  the  deposition  was  duly  drawn  up  and 
signed,  abd  he  arose,  exclaiming  : 

"But,  good  heaven  !  madam,  do  you  not  know,  iif 

:  you  s^rvlve,  you  will  be  arrested  too,  and " 

" Hush  !"  said  Gipsy,  sternly ;  "she  is  dying  " 

« I  tell  you  I  did  not  murder  her,"  she  exclaimed. 

almost  springing  up  in  bed;  "it  was  he  who  ^ve  hei^ 

^  Uie  poisou  !     I  never  did  it     Listen  !  do  y«i  not  hear 

her  shrieks  ?  or  is  it  not  the  cries  of  the  fiends  I  hear  al- 

readyPiSr^  was  afraid.    Ha  I  ha  !  ha  I*^  she  said,  with  a 

horrid  laugh,  «'  I  mocked  him  until  he  Vntured  to  do  it 

He  drowned  her  child,  too  ;  he  said  he  did-he  threw  it 

into  the  sea ;  and  dead  people  tell  no  t^les.     Who  said  it 

jas  alive?    I  will  never  believe  it!  Jxm  dead!  It  is 

dead!  ,-a   ...       '_    .        imm 

She  sank  back   exhausted.    *he  magistrate  gazed, 

white  with  horror  ;  but  Gipsy  was  calm.  Item,  and  stilJ. 

Look,  look  !  they  come  for  me-their  arms  are  out: 

stretched  -■  they   approach  -  they  strangle  ;;me.    Off, 

fhrT^nf'.'    ''^r    "^  ^^?^'    Pieiing*" shriek    rang 
through  the  house,  then  she  fell  back,  her  .jaw  dropped! 
.her  eyes  grew  glazed,  her  face  rigid,  and  Madge  Oran' 
more  was  dead.  ■       .  ^^  


"^$S;^ 


i*« 


,rv 


■V- 


'.ssio^r. 


I  shdrt,  bluster- 
to  Gipsy — who 
iravving  oflf  his 
clemency  pf  the 
T  saying ;  , 
>  ipakfe  a  depo- 
lovin  and  conj- 

the  little  man 
,  sitting  by  the 
ing,  with  many 
izemeqt. 
Irawn  up  and 

not  know^  if 

dying." 

ihe  exclaimed, 
who  g^ve  her 
•  you  not  hear 
2nds  I  hear  al- 
he  said,  with  a 
tured  to  do  it. 
i— he  threw  it 
Who  said  it 
dead !  It  is 


istratc  gazed, 
em,  and  stilJ. 
arms  are  out- 
le  jme.  Off, 
shriek  rang 
jaw  dropped, 
4adge  Oran- 
^.  ■         .      ■ 


u 


MSTHIBUTIOI^. 


n.J^.t^d':*""'""'"  -PP'Ued  ^ence.    The».he 
i^'^^t^'  '"^""  •"-' '  ""=  ve.y  air  seem, 

'  "ighC  she  aecompanlLd  Wm  ,o  hi«  nm      "'^  """"» '"• 
rant  for  the  arrest  of  Dr  Wic  °ffi<:e.  received  a  war- 

cables,  set  off  i;^:dia;e,S:"„ 'et'^air  '"^  ~- 


PH AFTER  XXXVI.  ^ 

.;.  ,         RETRIBUTION. 

'  °  ^7°"^*"  wronged  can  cherish  hate 

Hath  left  revenge  her  chosen  way." 

~WHITTItt. 

jT>  was  the  afternoon  of  thd  following  day   The 
I    squire  ^at   alone,    muttering     to    himsdf 

man's  noddrenowT-M.i^^^^^^  """  be  in  old  Wise- 

and  marry  lIzz^    H.fhn  r  k   Tu^  '°  ^'^^''^^  ^W. 

Wonder    wt",d^Mothe    'o^^^^^^^  "°"^'  '^  ^^''•^^• 
anothei*  secret  .   i"  .^°'**«'^    Oranmore  wapted  ?  that's 

here4i;rhersLf!^''.''^a.tf 'o^d  "^  a^r.M 
P  stairs.    He  sent,  down  word  «ome  Ume  ago. 


<\ 


A' 


N 


■m^- 


ii 


U'^- 


i' 


KE-RRIBUTION. 


that  he  had  something  important  to  tell  me   andWJJ?2rt 
a  private  interview.     Think  of  thaMR.u      .®^ 

m«;4  •        '  be  sure  you're,  right,  then  mhead  as  Solo 

Dr.  Wiseman,  thin  and  attenuated  by  illnL    lo^t"*^ 

took  a  seat  Sear  the  fire  advanced,  and 

tavetotellmi.T''^"'!:'"''  ""»  '^O""*'*'"  affair  vou 
h^^loli":!   '"'  ""  ^-«.  adia«ln^  y„se.f  in" 

A»ipsy.     bhe  has  always  done  what  she  \\\.«a       TT^ 


■>J? 


»; 


* , 


>.- 


:./ 


Retribution.      # 


353 


•  '-. 


-yoj  know  ,he';;Xrnd  rL'  "lafl^ir^  ^-^ 
with  all  his  eyes.  ^  '^*  *'""'*■  "Ving 

^  i"  yes,  but  lalft/l  have  discovered  who  she  is     v„ 
need  not  excite  vnnrdr  a_  •      ■-  ..  *  '^     'ou 

remaps  you  are  not  aware  that  frvr  »,«  i 

One  Christmas  eve,  just  nineteen  yearsa^o  H^l\ 
for  me  in  most  urgent  ha^re  <•  i  ^  iT    ^®  .    *So»  she  sent 

and  was  shown  toTe  ladt^  ^'0°  ^"  Th"  """f^e-S-* 
anl7     r  •    u  ^®  "^^^^  Promptedlher  to  so  fiendish 

-ut,  .\h:;e;^::ir-ri:^  •^- » -^^^ 

Ji^  '"'"'■'  '"r."""'"  ^«'e*i«ir..«coili„gi„ 

I  we«';'o?h7^";1he°.idf ""'""'  P'°""^^  «»  "<>"• 
itatin^  I  h^rd  «  .1  •  J,      *''  °"' '  "''"«  I  «««>  hes- 

aside  to  watch  the  event  •  det^rnjJ:!^  ^      ^*    ^  ^^^""^ 

tookTJL''Z:'\.^.  "°°"°  "h"  was  in  the  slei..h 
childL^'w  J*"  ;^'  """"""'"'  Mrs.  Uo,.r-^£t  . 


* 


1? 


iTta 


3^; 


I 


^^TRIBUTION'. 


t 


!!*  .•■•^■*^. 


ni^th  and  eyes  «-ereipe^To"hli?    -^   ">""•'   ■"*<«« 

for  what  I  had  done  and Tf'  "^  '°"«  '«'^  «"»<'«e 
paration  to  the  be^'of  \„  """^  --"olved  to  make  re- 
foundling.  This;  Sq„i^  fiX^"''  \  ""*^'5""«  "•« 
W"sh  to  niarry  Gipsy  whichC     i'  T^  ""*  '"'«  <>'  »/ 

"  Still,  I  was  com  J  -  .    ?      '*^  y""  »°  '""E- 

i>-inj  to  n,racpidenf 'rjr,  1"°™"'  •"  -"*'  ^^^^^-■ 

.  toore;  but  I  wrote  to  he?  r.!, '""<''  **"•  "-«». 

With  exposure  if  she  did  i"?''"'"^'. '"reatening  her 

wholaattait.    She  grew  ll'd'^T'^'^'^'^  «veal  the 

letter  that  explain  Jaironi'r'  '""•="'*  »«"'  "e  a  ' 

^     her,  by  letting  theworid'knn     T"«  ""  °°'  '»  disgnicie 

..letter,  I  rdgre^  to  sTy X  ^"J:  "^^'  'h-.had  done.    That 

"Well!"   said   the^  •      ?''*PP"y'°st.":  i 

paused.         .■       f""'   breathlessly,  seeing   he 

"Well,  sir,  she  told  me  all     ,M    -.-,   . 
your  eldest  daughter,  EsTher?  and  A^fr^^'^  '^'  '='""»  «" 
Bewildered,  amazeH    fk     J^    ^"red  Oranmore." 

8a-io»uponhim?nTsUwessT''"'''  "«  '<l"-«  «« 
"The  way  of  it  was^,  "^°"°''-  ^• 

ca'njlr  as  though  hi.  a    ^^deXr'^  ""  ''°«°'-'  « 
"Alfred  ,-erari„o        as   you    tl  ^^  '"'"  «  Prescription, 
drowned,  feaving  h  s  wife  i„  ,h     '  "*'   accidentally' 
Mrs.  Oranmore  heard  T  it   and  h  T^"^  destitution^ 
conveyed  to  f,er  house,  whi";  2  c,'^  f  "*■"  P"''"""^ 
death  to  be  published  in  th!         eaused  a  notice  of  hWr 
was  in  doing^hi's,  I  k^n^w  '„t,  P^P"-    What  her  object 
her  house.     How  she  came  bv  h,.  /"■•  f '  '^^^'  *«' '» 
Kuess.    I  knew  nothing  of  it  at  tL"!"""'  '  '"""^  «»*» 
.  before.    Mrs.  Oranmore  ..il  !   . .     ""*'  »«  '  'old  you 

t  might  .ot  be  in~;;othtt'  t"'-^"""***  'k"' 
'-g  I  was  as  hearties..  2nH^.„.,"  '^°- «'"/  i  and  think- 
er"'"** *"•'«".  8h«  employed 


■■-W- 


\.._jil 


!^ 


ffi*-'' 


»      •      f 


•^IfV) 


l.  .  .   ..:■-  '  ■, 

RETRIBUTION. 


^ 


'And  GiS;  i,%'"^^47c^^^ 

the  4ow,  bewildered  i!^ofon.^„^'^■ '^"^"^'^^ 
what  he  says.  °"®  "^^^  ^^°««t  realize 


imagination  it  must  have  be^n    ,    ■        ='™"'o''  your 
Have  you  ever  heard  of  ?h  "      '  '° '""^'such  a  story ! 

my  lor^  anT^t  1  °Hf  tCrLl^^''-  -|"  -'.'  - 
enter-!  here  is  yotfr  priso^^r  V'  '  ''"'  ""O  Jo^f  <>».  g 
^_^^She  opened  the  door  as  she  s/oke,  and  th^consuble, 

r^   ,  .      .^  '     ^   «'  '^»'  »  lear  lie  will  not  serve  you  more. 


ypur  delicate  wH«r!  ./Zl. ,^^"^^  ^'^'  3^^"  ^»1  hurt 


Id  any  pro- 
*^  your  enjl 


f^your:de.icai;--;^i^"=;"?;.|fe:^;:;:; 

..^^je^maa^to/reet-e^^^^^^^ 

taurder  of  my  ^othl,;  /slLVn  "'*  """"="  '"^  «•« 
»>.,.  ■,--,.  '°.\°!°"'°'^'  Esther  Oranmore,  just  ninPt».n 


M- 


♦  ■  . 


atrifl.  might  have  es^^d"  ■;:^^^^TJ^'^^'^ 


lemary  I" 


■    ; 


m*' 


i':  ' 


.  'Wi 


-'t' 


<i.   ' 


V 


tyi. 


35« 


%'%. 


1  " , 


METRiBU 


•ew  pMifcctty  ijhastJy;     !!«.* 


5  i  :  I 


F'% 


V 


if'li    ' 


'  The  face'pf  ll||s  doc 

upheld  bj^  oi|^  ^^he.  mefl:;^  G^sy  mmU 
wit^%faS|^erf6c!^hite,  meT#»^s  gl^ 
^^■'•ra&^eitlier^eek.     Her  «l^&^p 

.Jense  J^,  her  *^ps%,i|h|^  a  ^1^ 

4^   her  long  hair,  stl-eabing  in    dia*. 

^ck,  gave  tier  a  Ig^ok  that  awed  evfa 

flthemselv6s.  ,  'f^''''^'^.,'  'V 

u-      srif  ^°^^  Wiseman,"  &e  said,  in  a  slow, 

•  ^  m^^isi'*'^  ^  ^^"^  '''''''^^  "  *  ^'^^^  #^^«^  °»y  vow  of 
^m^^'^W^?^/^  "^y  revenge  is  completer  will  be,  when 
^-  youi^m^rable  bo^y  swings  from  5f  gallows.     I  see 

•  ^«  iiow,  yg^i^aim  jn.Fpmpelling  me  to  ma%  yoti ;  but  yoa 
liave  failed:  .Satan  has  deserted  his  eaElyrepresenta- 

ive,  at  last     No  earthly  power  can  sava^ou  from  hane- 
ing  now;    Awaj  with  him  to  prison  !    fi|e  veiy  air  is 
•  |ainte<l  ^hicHta  murderer  breathfes."\  —^ 

•  .The  iiiien  adynced  to  bear  off  their  prisoner.  At 
.that  moment  fhje  recollection  of  the  astrologer's  fell  pre- 
diction aash6d;acrpss  his  minj.  VVTofd  for  word  it  had 
been  fulfi  led  Before  him.  iS  ghastly  a^ray,  arose  the 
scaffold,  the  hangman,  his  dying  agonies,  and  the  terri- 
bleliereafter.  Ovefconie  by  fear,  horror,  an^  remorse,  ■ 
wi  h  a  piercing  shriek  of  utter  wo^  the  wretched  man 
fell  senseless  to  the  floor.      /  , 

:"Take  him  away,"  said  Gipsy,  stern 
with  a  shudder  of  disgust.:  •?  mv  ev  ' 
of  him!"  >    ,     >  '.  '       ^ 

Theyb^e  him  away.    Gipsy, 
listen in^Hjil  the  last  sound  of 
in  Mie  dlQKe  ;  then,  abruptly  ti 
rodni,  leaving  the/fequire  stunned, 
dered  by  the  rapidity  with  which  a 


y 


•  » 


5;  f 


turniAgaside  ^' 
ythe  the  sight 


Ithe  wjndow\ 
age  died  away 
le  quitted  the 
tss,  and  bewil- 

takea  plade. 


■*e. 


i»  .. 


■X 


A'''\*'  , 


ANOT^MJt^   SUMPRim, 


357    V 


'U 


CHAPTER  XXXVIJ, 

anotheJ  surprise. 


known  as  .hey.  were,  rte  r^e^u^fliiy'^f   the^''^'^^ 
implicated,  the  high   stondin^  of  ,h„  „  •  J?*"'^* 

ciety-all  contributed  to  add^aL"  '^"T""  '°  *°- 
the  case.  V       :  .  '^  **'*  K^nsra'  interest  of 

covJi^'tW  Gint*^   '"''^ff'^ents,  the   startling,  dis- 

.  a^iTewi^defce  Vout:  1^"^'"*  ^^  -"-d*^ 

the  brightness  of  Ws    nteUeit  ItT  """^f  "?""■  '°' 

hf  ?/;.^  *T°  '"  P»«5<iute;-and;generall/nS- 
hef  days  m  solemn  exhortitils  to>jtll«*m*»'^r  -k 
warned  bv  bis  <Mrr.^i  •—      ,      "'4(»»»enraBts,to  be 
oy  ms  »rfal  example,  and  ttiend  theit-wa« 

'      ■       '  ~r- -f—r-—' —  - '  <^  ,  «■ 


/ 


—*•*•■ 


V 


'\/ 


IK- 


#■ 


nv 


- 

* 

« 

i 

• 

* 

1 

• 

^^^^1 

HH^H 

IHH 

•.>*: 


3^8 


A 


^A^OntMH    SUkPRlSR. 


x^0i>.-l 


/ 


v\ 


•v- 


II  ^i=^'\ 


l-\ 


i,i~ .       .        .  .^'  "™  occurred,  and  desirin<r 

him  to  return  home  imirtediately  '  •"««  aesiting 

aiiol'l.rt?.'^  T"^^""  "'  relaxation  whiel,-  oTpsy  ever 
allowed  herself  were  her  visits  to  Valley  Cotta«M«Jr 
ing  to  the  gentle  words  of  Celeste-'' drarCe^!',""'"; 

tSZ "^'^Xll^'  "^  ""^  '"^ had^,^tSSana 

\  it^^3e±'rhtitrl;fr„l|jLf ^^^^^^ 

^  cTait  ir :  '^'"'^  °'"=°^-^  herrg"  r  1 7h: 

,        cottage,  feehhg  It  a  comfort  to  pour  her  troubles  i„?^ 
/fclrhStir'"^  ""  "'  ""  '"-"•    And  S  would 

&^n*:^^Sv:s:^e^rSv^txr^''r 

V  ..hock  might  prove  fatal. ' Celeste  Ld^t*I"arf  Z 
'  '     no  oi^  J^  hear  of  her  brother'*  arrest.    AmrMlnne  te 

ft    M.         1^'  *^*'"'  "»""•«  had  made  her  dislike^. 

■  I't  .   Ont  eienin^sii  Mrt.  Gower  sat  in  one  of  the  ,.nn., 

,     chambers^nversing  with  Mrs.  Donne,  whose  irfe"^ 

~  -WiUbe  remembered,  Gipsy  saved     That  wlnhf  li  ■  J 

f  was  still  tf„  irimat;  </ sLnsTkalT  a  Jw^n  t  ^^ 

rneumatii.       In  the  confusion  and  excitemWnt  ^«ii  i 
;    .ng  the  arres|,  she  had  been  almost  foXStold  X 
^adas  yetTia,  opportunity  of  learning  The  |SX 
,;    Jrovdential  y  encountering  Mrs.  Gower,  X^reX' 
'■  tX::Zt"''l  '^^'"'  P'^'-Sherwitll^^^^ 
.    .  "ff^  5?'f  S^i*?"!  f**?*"^  and  wilh  much  gravity  bLn 


T— T 


Sit-  \ 


^h: 


_,  -^« 


V.  ..■ ' 


.■,-''1  ■ 


■  / 


rOTHER    SURPRISE. 


359 

evej^nineteen  j)S.s  tg^'j?.'""*  "P  oa  the  beach.  Christma,, 
I' Yes;  astonishing,  isn't  it?" 

carry^ti:^";;^^'"^":  'Ooughl  did  intend  t^./ 
help  it,  thercan-t  do  „fr'  "'"'  "'•    ^"""^  »  '""W^ 

.  "o'n  thr;e";t:gr;o"rs;e"r:;  ^^^^ 

nineteen  vears  aio    i         u      ^.        **^'   Christmas  eve, 

iwu  _>ears  ago,  I  M^as  brought  bvca  vniino^^„     * 
house  in  the  distant  narf  nf  .h      v^^^^*°  'o  » 

furn^lsu^ec.byherto^e!"""'-""'  '»"•  "^- 

"idn^^:    i.rthen' lT4Z  i^,,^'  ""  -'«"  9 
^slvas goiir  out  hJ L*^?!?    "    "  "P  '°  '=°'"«  hoi,., 

dov^n  tolstt  aodMd'r  » Vd°  ,T  ?"' ^^ 

home  with  me,  a^d  ta^ctre  o„^,  f  i     »''*  ""  '^"''l 

.hadneilherch  cit  nor  rhnn    f      '  ^-  P*>'  ""*  "*"•     ' 

-idde,  and  r  t^orhi^""  f  V^:^'^^  ''"'^  '^ 
purse  wiiy*  TOod  rn„i,^     '"s  word.,  He  gjive  me  a 

«pot,a„jp'pS'„^roter 

^%V!^te  «r^ra«d:whenireacS 


if 


>  ».< 


ANOTHER    SC^PR/SR      .'       # 


.ped  the  baby   in 
-  know  not  how  ;  an^ 
'i  ^Ward,  it  was  gone. 


rfusion  ;   wandered  off  I 

ic ipicW^-not  longafter- 


moi 


H- 


■\i».. 


\ 


^^.r.     Wd],  I  Clare  to  marTi    I  was  most  cr^y.     I  hunted 
^^up  and  down  the  beach  till  nigh  mornin^  bJfcouW  s^e 
Ano  signs  of  u  ;  and  I  supposed  the  tide  ^arried^p^^r 
^y  little  thing  away.     I  was  dreadfully  sotry,  you  may  be 

the  best  of  It,  and  say  nothing  about  it.     So  When  the 
.  yo^g  man  camp,  I  told  him  it  was/doing  very  weU 
^^never^kedto^y^ 

^^or-some  time   after   he /ontinued  sliding  me 

^^ar^ltu   '°r  .^'°PP«r altogether,  and  I  never 
from  either  of  them  patbre."  H 

603^^°"^"^^'^/^"'  Ws  name?"  inquired  Mrs. 
o,»  "'^r''-  5*5*. ''»*'%  "JroPPed^s  handkerchief,  eoip«r'  ' 

strJc^^^f*""'*'""'"  "P^"'"  M«.G<We.v  thunder: 

"  ^«s,^tiai^s  hisf  nanifc;  add  iflfev  watp'  *h«  i,i«^ 
»on.est  pir"^I  ,,,.  .?|Wrd?no»^.h*  p^ 
again,  if  e»er  I  saw  them.'up*^    •  *       ^  ta*^  " 

«l„^"H'','5'T'^'"M^^"?^''»<l8oi€tb  where 
if:?  ^"'J''*  ■"'l»r%»he  -had  found  olhisWk 
.gien  de^  jh^handpE  WniH.  Donne.'   That^r^n 
»l|e^^se.zed  i^wV  a  s®ed  siriek.  as  she  e«laime^: 
I  •t^^l^'^AT-  Ktyions !  ifs  tfiepicter  of  the  lady 
'?°^?'-     '  <*  ''"°''  'hat  face  anywhere."  ■  ,  ' 

if  ,h-  K '  ^n'  ^f .'  "**'■  •'  "'•"  """^  Miss  Lizzie  say 
4fh    ^'^l^^^l  «i«=»l?f«l  Mrs.  Gower,  holding  up 


ANOTHER    SURPRISE   \: 


361 

mark,  like  a  red  cross  ri^hnn^^*  ^  ^''^  *  "^^'^^^ 

exclaiming  :  .  "  Kf»5pcq  netjyr  the  arm,- 

"  On  which  shoulder  was  that  mark  >    <!o,r  ^        u-  ». 
Shoulder!"  "^  '*»»  mai  mark  ?    Say  on  which 

been-^"    '^"  """•""  =h«^Peaksof  have 
;;^''°'^^'"'J^i«<i  Mrs.  bonne,  eagerly.  *  •: 

ZTif  r^^-^^S.  »he  had    unfasten^  he"  les' 
X^^/^  ""  "''  shoulder,  and  disga'eTl' 

indl^^'?^-""''-  ^ips7,  spn.ng  back.  e^,g 

wi,fr^fl^°^."«  -»^  -"  "••  ■»"^.  and  fen  ^^W 
ier^?!^'  " '  *"''  "  <»»"'y !    Shi-,  th«  child  saved, . 
^^^'  who^chlldart  I  ,«.r  said  the  «tonished 
y        "  Can  you  describe  the  shawl  the  child  you  jp^ialc  of 


>       • 


jtfa 


^    ANOTHER    SURPRISE. 


v, 


.bought  for  me  afore  we  »»«  ™  •  j  ,^  up  above, 
red  with  a  whiteTorder  a„H  r'?"*-  "  "''"right 
«a„ds  for  Jane  Donnf>  W  ^^  ""'"  ■'•  P"  ("""ich 

JD.  (which  stands  t^?«:;^"l,''"^'''t  ■«'«" 

.  pi«d  Mrs.  Donne,  with  aniCSn!       '^  '"  """"'"  '"■ 
•"^"tberln  thVult't  ^^Te^r"  ^'"« '"""  "-'o 

did  you  g^  U  r  ■'  """  "  ""'  ™'^  °°«-    ^^-  -  ""h 

"  Wrapped  around  the  child." 

"  Aunty,  pray  tell,  me  what  in  the  world  H«*c  -n  *u- 
mean  ?"  exclaimed  Gipsy.  "^'°*  ^o'^^**  does  all  this 

^     For  reply,   Mrs.  Gower  briefly  narrated   r«hi,:  u  ^ 

wretched  to  my  dyinjr  dav     M,,  rr.^.t       '^^^°^^^^    "^e 
living  yet,  for  Ljc::flc^,.''^^!*^*^^^  ^^«^'  "^-Y  ^e   . 

In  her  exultation  Gipsy  first  rode  over  to  tell  Pei«  . 
then  coming  home  she  seaL  herself  and  wrot" ,^^^^^ 
}omu^  letter  to  Louis ;  ^  ^ J^!'  \ 


wk 


'# 


thout 

tig  shawl,  as 
el  up  above, 
was  bright 
•p.  (which 
I  the  letters 
t'other,"  re- 
ed her  face 
from  one  to 

:  length, 
room,  and 
lawl,  which 
sd  a  cry  of 

fe  on  earth 


>es  all  this 

what  had 

of  Gipsy 

ualed  her 

as  Mrs. 
irderer  of 
lered    me 

,  may  be    i. 

I  Celeste, 
the  fol- 


'/^ 


ANOTHER    SURp/ise:   \  ^63 


■     %  "Sunset  Hall,  St.  Mark's.  )   - 

«ri         *  December  23,  18— .        \ 

I  h.„  ^-^  ^"'"'  *■"'  ^"™^  0Vanm6re  ;  since  thett 
yours,  Lpu,i  were  the  sanfe-who  nty  mother  wa,  I 
know  not;  bit.  Aunty  Gower  has  shown  n,eT  ik"ness 
tound  on  mrkather's  neck  when  dead,  represent W. 

rt°h^o::h  t^'^  ^"''  ^)"  "■""  ■•''- "«» n,;rothen 

for  though  the  picture  is  f«r,  and- 1  am  dark,  yet  thev 

^msTwT .'r*^ "  ^"°"«  «««">lance  5etwe;n  1^^.    I^ 
seems  I  was  takeaway  by  the  nurse  the  night  of  my 

™ay  be  it,  too,  .^Xf,^^^  ^»t::d'    How 
angularly  .y         arl  turning  outT^Who  w^uid  "^r 

dtr  LouisX;   rt  f"  »'««"  Pohasten  hom"  • 
r^i         ,'  u     •  heart^than  one  are  'longing  for  vou^ 
coming.    I  have  a  thou\and  things  yet  tltcll  you  bu. 

yourX.  "'"  """"^'V  '  -"  w^'  -til     «e  yoS 
irouraffecUonate««*r,      \  Gifsy." 


■H.o**' 


'i*fe  .^ 


^'  ,1 


Hn  *S| 

,»^ 

4' 

' 

HIS' 
'IMI 

ffll' 

3<54 


7W:5    HEIRESS, 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 


TttE  HEIRESS  OrSHJNSET   HAL'L. 


1 


*!■> 


Ah. 


.\ 


'A  perfect  woman,  nobly 
To  warm,  to  comfort,, an 


lagpcd, 
command ; 


-And  yet  a  spirit  still  and  bright, 

With  something  of  an  angel  Tight.  "^W<2U)9W0KTH. 


•(» 


.         -ri 


HE  darkened  rooms,  the  htished  fodtMls,  the   * 
T^hispe^ed  words,  the  anxious  fac^s,  betoken 
the  presence  of   sickijess.     Likli^^soDie  long,  ** 
dark  effigy,  Miss  Hagar  lies  on  her  bed,  pros- 
.> :^  "■•:':  : ;:  trated  in  body  and  mind,  and  sick  unto. ileatl).  ^ 
By  her  side  sits  Celeste,  in  if  quiet  dress  of  soft^gray, 
her  golden  hair  lying  in  bands  6n  her  fair  cheeks,  P*^%. 
knd  thin  with  l^ong^days  and  night)  of  unceasing  watch- 
;ing,*.         '■  J   <y^A.     '         '      .        \  '  , 

Never  had  the  .tender  love  and  cherishing  caire  of  thi 
ypung  girl' been  so  manifested  as  in  the  sick-room /f 
her- benefactress.    Night  amd  ds^y,  like   some  angel/of 
■mercy,  she  iiovered  over  (the  cojtich  of  the  invaljp — 
ready  at  the  slightest  motion   tb  hold   the. cup  ta/her 
parched^Jjps,  or  bathe   her  ba;"nihg  brpw;    Nottiin^ 
CQuld/fnd]i|ce  her  ,to  leave   her  side/  save,  when  tired 
'Nature  coul^d^watcb  ha  longer,  she  sought  her  couch  tp 
catch  y  few  mbments'  sleep;    And  Miss  Hai^ar,  with  tl^e^ 
_  'fretful    waywardniess  of  illness,  would  hav6  ijo 
^  npar  her  but  Celeste.  Gipsy  had  offered  her  seihricfcs 
assistant  jai^rse,*"  but  was  -most  prpil^tlv  rejewsdi  >     I   ' 
"  I  want  Gdcste.  ^Whcre  is  Celcsteff?  was  )lsverthe 
cry  of  the  invalid.    ;  ,     f^      ^V 
•      It  wa%  the  second  week  of  Miss 
dAys  she  had  been  raving  delirio 


ISU! 


8  illnesf.'  F«r 
Of  oi:ging  np 


u A . u = ■: i__u — ^    *^  -'ri^ '-JSt 1-_ — S^ — : — 1 — 


■:«::-^: 


.  cri^i^of  her  dir^allnV     ^°""  J>-.oa„ced,  «,, 

>ao^^.''Th:'^rwa?n?  evening  of  a  b.«.k 
and  .ha.d..ind  wardSi^tlf-^^^^^^ 
house.    The  fire,  burainff  low  i„  ,i!l  *  '""^'y 

-     fitful,  uneenainlighJ^hfoaih  2 tr^'*';"?'''  ^"* 

L.«-.     •/        -    ^*   •"®'^*^ce  was  wet  with  tears  hnf  .h« 
knew  It  not  •  snhc  inn»»  j  j      *    .      *■"  "-cArs,  out  sne 

'.    had    she   f^t    sn   titt,^,^  a      ,         /^^*^v®£  »o  her  life 

^  ^ini^ed  wi^^  he?  t^^  tt^^^^"^^^ 

%ncir<)f  death.  '      *.     '  ^^'^^^^^  *°  ^fa«  prc»- 

-      '   Night  feH  in  Itorrii  ,and  darkness   Tn  fi,«  ^         v      '     ' 

Vthing  could  be  discerrter^r?i;       u^   -*^®.P  ^^°^'°' 

light  of  the  drifting  snTw^TestcL-'^    '  "-^''''^ 

^,       la  a  moment  she  was  bendiS'e  over  her '    p.=.„    i.  ., 

retamia  to  ifs  thropex  and  fof  the  fi«I' ,i^!^    ^"^ 

t  ""^^l' Mi«  "»Sar  rt-?gnized  hV  °"  '"  ""^ 

.,.  been  ill,  have  I  not?"       ^^       ""*/ »  ""St.       Ihav?, 

>    '*"•  ""'"'  '  ""'  ""Yer  ret  well.    S.^K,.     ^U, 


*F-.  ■■     /' 


r 


,v 


V 


/>^ll 


'   iR 


f 


■ 


^f  •. 


V 


.■.„*.  i;  < 


vV.  <^ 


t," 


'l/i-». 


'-#' 


!/■ 


'Vijs       «■  '*».  ■ 


f<6 


'i    THE    HBtRESS.      „ 


tells  me  that  I  am  called,"  said  Miss  Haear  solemnly 
laying i>er  hand  on  her  heart.  "I  am  sSghs"- L^d 
perhaps  I  may  never  see  the  morning  dawn  I  wish  t 
could  see  them  all  before  I  die.    Sefd  Jmy  brothe 

roor  Minnette  !  I  have  been  harsh  to  her  sometimes  I 
am  afraid  •  and  I  would  ask  her  pardon  beforeT  ZLV 
Why  don't  you  send  for  them,  Celeste  ?"  ' 

.  What    should,   she  do  ?    What    ought   she  to  sa^? 

._:Howcouldjhe  tell  her  what  had  happened?     ^  '^' 

Dear  Miss  Hagar,"  she  said,  gently,  -  neither  th*. 

doctor,  nor  Minnette,  nor  Archie,  'afe  at   kom^^uf  ^f 

you  will  see  Gipsy,  a  will  go  for  her^'       ''°^"^^"*  »^ 

>  f..w^"5''°^  '  ^*^  ^^P^  ^"  "murmured  the  sick  woman 
.  feebly. -scattered  far  and  wide.  But  you  Celelle  von 
;      hare  stood  by  me  through  all;  you  ha^^^  t^'^^^ 

??^,^7^«f'«^™3roldage.     Miy  Godble^s^u^rU^ 
^,  Truly  has  he  said  :  '  Cast  thy  bread  upon  the  waters  and 

k  shall  return  unto  thee  after  many  days.'    ^u   diiM 

have  ypu  nev^  wondered  who  you  vLefhaveyo;  nte; 
wished  to  know  who  were  your  parents  ?"       ^ 

;  Oh,  yes,  often!"  replied  Celeste,  eagerly    ''but  I 

i  ^I'^e:^::.:^.^'"'" ''— «•  ^»" -^ teiit;-, 

•   «an'lJIi'i"^i"'!r;!'"f  ^'''"*'"  '*''•    I'l'  but  little  l' 
,   ^^;'"«™e-    The  way  you  carneundermy  care  is  simply 
.       •  "One  night,  as  I  was  returnihg  home  from  the  VH- 
.  '»8''.«"'""..n"S"a!lyIatehour,aIitt^bgirl<:amerunnrne     ■ 
her  'IT^^'^'^''-^  l.9vel,.and  begged  meto  en  er  wUh 

her,  for  her  aunty,  as  .she  called  herfwas  dyine  \I  went 
.    . Vnd  found  «,  old  woman  lyi„fto„  a  heap c^'r^s  and 

striw,  whose  wd  was  evidently  *  hand,    f  d  d  fc  I 
could  for  her;- But  f  saw  she  wa.  sinltin^  fasrHer 


W^ 


, 

1 

» 

«  . : 

r.. 

',  >- 

■        *    /■ 

■V 

'  ,-    . 

'■ 

« 

<■ 

/ 

>, 

, 

tf ' 

■J 

I 

/ 

( 

» 

;/  ■■■■•■■ 

< 

■' 

. 

4 

• 

^ 

»*  . 

'  ''fl 

• 

•', 

•        >: 

■• 

t 

1 

»     « 

. 

M'  * 

'i 

,    ^> 

•            * 

It 

, 

■    • 

■1 

• 

■/ 

1.. 

. 

« 

J' 

IJ 

■.  ■  - 

^ 

*» 

'K 

r 

■  ■* 

1 

\ 


at  the  foot  of  the  bed,  weeping  bitterly.     In  her  anxiety 
for  her  she  seemed  to  forget  her  own  sufferings.  "  ^■ 

What  will  she  dp  when  I  am  gone  ?    Vho  will  iJro 
tect  her  ^nd  care  for  her  in  this  selfish  world  ^J'T^"  ^°- 

JU  she  an  orphan  ?"  I  asked.  ' 

/.-^  'That  I  do  not  know.  The  child  is  a  TFoundline 
and  no  relation  to  me;  but  I  love  her  as  though  she 
wen.  my  own  child.  Oh]  what  will  feecomc^f  £' 
when  I  am  gone?  .-^        . 

" 'And  have  you  no  clue  to  her  birt^r 
1' ^"^  ^"^  Christmas  eve,  about  twelve  years  ago 
my  husband  was  caught  in  a  storm  coming  from  A— 
As  he  was  hurrying  , along  by  the  shore  road,hesawa 
sleigh  m  advance  of  him.  and  hastened  on  in  hLes  to 
overtake  ,t.  In  his  hurry  his  foot  struck  againsUoll! 
thing  on  the  ground,  and  he  stumbled  and  f«li     As  Ke 

'  w'^'  i?^^!!!^'^'*  '^  «^»"^'"«  i«5^n(l.judgloth|6  ,Jr,  ' 
pnsea^  finding  it  to  be  ^  you^iamfwrapped  ^ 
hM^  shawl,  and  sweetly  sleeping.in,his  astonLment 
he  stood  rooted  to  the  ground,  unable  to  mov^,  and  the    ' 
sleigh  passed  on,  and  was  soon  out  of  sight.     It  was  evi-, 
dept  to  him  that  the  inmates  of  th,^eigh  had  either  left 
It  ther^  to  perish,  or  it  had  ^cciBent^lly  ^fallen  out     In - 
either  ca^,  the  only  thing.,|ie  could  do  w^s  to  take  if ' 
home,  which  he  did  ;  and  handed  if  to  me,  half  frozen 
the  nejjt  mprning.    Our  o^„  little' Vl  was  dea&;  ahd 
hi,  child  seemed  so  Hke  a  god -send  t6  fill  her  place  iTat 

I  received  it  with  joy,  and  reeved 't9,  ado{^  ftf  f  i^     ^ 
.^  parents  hever  claimed  i^.     For  months  we  lived  in  J!^  V: 
.^^constantdread  that  it  wouldbe  taken  from  us  ;  but  yerf^s 

passed  on  and  no  inquiry  was  ever  made  concerniig^t 

We  nabied  hen  Ge  esf*. .  fr.r  *u^,^  ^__»^J_....        ^^ 


We  najmed  hci;  Celeste ;  for  there  wj^s^om^^Ing^y  V 

,  angel-like  face,  and  loving  aaturc  • 


•^etesti^  in  Jier  sweet.  _..^..  „_  ._,,  ^„,  .ovmg  .aturc  • 
•^and  never  did  parents  lov^  any  only  child  as  we  did  her.' 


''^,, 


*»      '.  '^r  •    , 


-rr 


'^i 


yn. 


'"  „'    '  •  "   .  i'"' 


^$ 


THE    HEIRESS. 


(( 


d^ii  ..".,*"" '^'^  *''°"' *'«""  y<«"-s  old,  my  husband 
died ;  aud.after  that  everything  «emed  against  us     We  • 

■        wSied  a.?h,"/  '™"' '"'^'■'ff- ■  For  nearly  fodr  year   I 

.,.     worited  at  this,  sluchtng  away  from  dayliehl  t»ll  dark  • 

and  then  scarcely  able  to  keep  soul  and' body  WK«her' 

to  frfl,  and  I  resolved  to  leave  the  city.     My  husband's 
friends  haAformerly  resided  here,  andTwasCw"  of 

now  i  ftenh!^  T  *^  •""  ""'«»  O^ng^ously  ill ;  a„d 
left  urf^/w  •  !f"  ''^'"^  =  *■"*  -"y  poor  Celeste  will  4,e 
left  utterly  friendless  and  alone.  She  is  beautiful  as 
you  see;  and  what  her  fate  may  be,  should  she  n™  to 

ihe  deep  affliction  of  the  dying  woman  and  th- 
.heartfet  grief  of  the  chUd,-touched^me  Sy'    Irt ' 
-      Volved  that  the  poor  oriihan  should  not  be  lef?  to  stru^ 

was  awe  to  provide  for  fier.     In  a  few  brief  words  i  told 

-     '   ^IJ^iJ^T'^  """  3l.al.  IfoigetK  :^ 
f^'"'''"'"'^'r^1fr°"  'be  dying  eye^  a,  she  list-  -. 

■  ^        m=.r  ^i!^  S"**  fa^r:bies,  you  r  she  excUimed.  •  add  ""^ 

W      "ay  the  Fi  her  of;^lle  fatherless  reward  yoa  for  this!'        , 

•^       .,:T'»'»i«ht  She  died;  and  next  day  she  was  buried 

"  ^  "»«»«"«! -of  the  parish.    I  took  you  homeTand  '  ' 

..sincethen  you,  have  been  toy  sole  eartMy  joyj^Ce  es  ,e       ' 

•  ^?t  ""^  '^at  I. am  dying,  I  leave  yod,..s  a  leg^ Tour' 

',  '/.      n  """"'?; ''?'''»"««».  Miss  Hagar's  lipsceised  to  move 

rem«ned  as  if  riveted  totli^t,  with  an  etaotion  «n-      . 

• '  <      ''■-         ,i  .  ./  ,         "'       '  ••>  •«■*  -•  -^ 


1P 

. 

,    ,rt 

; 

■   !," 

'• 

• 

^ 

HI  ' 

:•. 

•^ 

'  ;? 

1 

■        V    ' 

■■ 

..'^" 

■.';■ 

ft. 

1..    *   ■ 

^^ 

.- 

• 

H[ 

'"^^ 


T^£  ffJ^iiiJEsd 


0 


<»■ 


'  '■'f 


M-- 


until,  whio  the  spinster  claLw  if'  i  ,    ''P'  P"""'  ' 

■^Miss  IJagar!"  exclaimed MCclesie  st»r>in:,  '  -.W 
sudden  energy  to  her  feet  <'I=„,i  ■  '  "■'""'8  w«h 
for  Squire  Erlistonv!?  ^"'igo'ng  to  Sunset  Kail, 

it^onUns  Wm  Zre  ul      ' ''?""  '"'*  ""^^  '"  '>'''    ' 

burning  with  excitement,  as  she"sSrher^i    V  '^^ 
hood,  and  hurried  into  the  kitchen.  '='*^''  '»<• 

watch  With  her  Ant  u:aiT;r?eW^'"'>"  '"  '" 
tress.  as  she  tied  on  hbr  mawle  ^'  "•»  young,mis.    .' 

"  S-t,  r  ^     ^  /  ^'  °P*"'"K  •>"  "y*^  in  wonder 
n       yes,  I  must,  for  an  hour  or  «>    :«„  """""•,      , 

-d  d6  norleave  Miss  Hag^"!;^:,  T^^"-^^?.^^ 
Celeste,  as.  she  oi:)ened  the  door..  7^^^, ''ack,     said 

'      A  blinding  drift  df^snow  met  her  in  tu^  fo^. 
gust  of  wind  pierced  throu^h^h^r  V    "        ^'^^^  ^  *  ^erce 
Members  on  tlw  hS^„h^ r       ''^P'"^''  ^"^  ^^nt 
P  ,^    ^n  '^^^^^^'^  ^S'^-i*^  1-edly  through  the 


i:!i 


B . «  : 


".   \ 


-J-.  ■/■"■ 


S70 

J' 


THE    HE/R£s)s, 


'^'K 


f^^- 


V 


^  ■  X^hJ  b^^  '"*  ""'  '^  strength  \o  close  the ^^^^ 
Jnl  ^  '  T  '^^  *"^^««^ed.  after  twoi  or  three  effblT 
andstepped  out  into  the  wild  wintry  stirm  ' 

/•  At  length  St.  Mark'«  was  reached ;Xd"  looking  un^ 

^^:Ss:^::^'''"r'"^^^^^'^  ^^  s^niti^i^^z: 

.ing  redly  and  warmly  on  the  cold,  driftkb  snow    Fl^ 
vated^M;e  the  village,  its  window;  gloX  wUh  liS^' ^ 
";looked  the  very  picture  of  a  homeif  e^!^^  h^x^' 
-    ,/J/^«  sight  imparted  new  energy  to  hlr  WoS  ^ 
.    ^mbs ;  and  hurrying  still  more  ra^lJly  for^C^^  . 
_  ininuies  more  she  stood  before  the  aLnuH^       ^ 
jpniiehall,  all  white  with  fan::;t>"r"T    V    " 

her  lap,  thinking  of  one  far  away  ;  the  squire    utlerlv 

E^inS  1"   ^'^^^"'■^^^-'   -"d    Mrs.   Gowe^  sLt 
''^^'^'^'^''^^^^^^rrUzzi^  had  been  driv^ 
^^ot^H"  l'^f^h^-»^-g  fu^es  of  the  tobacco.    '„. 
Wh  ,°°V^'^^#»s'V- Celeste 'what  has   hapDeJed?' 

before  theiQ,  like  a  moving  f/st-maiden.  f 

The  squire,  requally  dismayed,  had  taken  his  oi^ 
from  his.mouth.  and  sat /aring  a  her  in  utter  bew/ldA^ 
ment;  while  Mrs.  Go^S,  rou^sed  from  her  sluler  " 
arosef^nj  her  seat,  aiiS  drew  he^over  to  the  f^T  '^ 
No,  thank  you,  Mrs.  Gower,  I  cannot  sit  '  said 
Celeste,  hurriedly..    ''Miss  Hagar  is  dying,  anfL     a 

you  sljould  hear  it.     Will  you  accompany  me  Sack  r 
she  said,  turning  to  the  squire.        ,  '  r  - 

"  Dying !  in,portant  revelations  !     Lord  bless/  me  j'' 


rt 


\ 


[a 


■■x'^fi 


^  '  THE    HnriRESS.  "  37-, 

ejaculated   the  squire  ;    "wont   it   do  to-morrow?"  h« 

added,  ,«s  a  wild  blast  made  the  windows  mttle.     "I 
don  t  care  about  venturing  out  in  thia,st6rm  " 

You  shall  go,  Guardy,"   said   Gipsy/  risin|  impet- 
uously «  and  I'll  go,  too.     Sit  down  and  warm  you"  sel 
Celest,e--we  11  be  ready  in  five  minutes.     Aum/Gower 
please  ring  for  Jupe.   ,Pity  if  you  can't  Wu!^,^!^ 

'    l^^l^^^^^^^f"'^''^'  walked  here  in  it  to  tell  you., 
^ff^!' AK  •   '^'^''•'  *•  '^^'  sable  individual  entered,  "be 
off  and  bring  round  the  carriage,  anddon^t  be  Wer"" 
than  five  minutes,  at  ypur  peril !     Here,  Totty  i  Totty  ' 

^^Z    ^    I  ^""^^^^  ^"^  greatcoat.     Quick,  there,!"  } 

o^d^'wL^'"^-' '"^'.'^  ''^  '"P'^'^^  ^"'^  which  these 
'  hfm.Hf  ,^'''?'.  '^^  '^"''■«'  ""^'^'^  to  resist,  found 

l^yself  enveloped  in   his  fur-iined  greatcoat.  s^ukI  in    • 
U^^rriage.*etw^n  the  two  girls,  ere  he  fouhdfoJSto   : 
protest  against  sudrsutnmary  proceedings 

-  The  fierceness  of  the  stoirm,  wiii^li  increased  i»^o. 
lence,  precluded  the  possibility 'of  citering'into  conver-    ' 
defl?Jri!"'*.M^l'''P^^"^'^''"  ^^^'  therefore,  .f  n.eK:qssity. 

TvZ;to^.  -^^  -"^-^  -^^  ;^^^ 

.t.  ^H  ;^^^"'^^':?^^  ^'■^^'  Celeste  «^ave  them  to  und«^ 
stand  that  it  concerned- that  i'  other  child,"  left  that  evem? 

sufficient  to  rivet  their  attention  ;  and  the  squirS,  in  his 
anxiety  and  impatience,  forced  his%  into  the  sick" 
room  and  stood  by  the  bed-side  of .  Miss  Hagar 

"  Sorry  to  see  you  so  sick,  iMissHagarj'pgu  my  life  I 
am.     Ineverexpectedtoseeyoucondned  to  your  bed 
Celeste-Miss  Pearl.  I  mean-has  told  me    you    have 
omethingof.the  greatest  impprtance^  to  communicate 


to  me." 

♦a 


!e 


ji 


it  caf  possibly  concern  you, 


'K 


.•■■■•'.)      , 


'"■x 


THE    HBIREBS. 

lv?^S^y^^^  ^g/'  ^"^^  "but  siiice 
^it  IS  Celestes  desire,  I  have  nf  objection  to  relate  to 
/^u  ^hat  I  have  already  told  he/    Oh  !"  said  the  sufferer 

turning  over  with  a  groan.         / 

JlA^'^J:^^i!^'^^  room,"/aid  Gipsy,  who  now  en-y 
tered,  while , Celeste  tenderJy/raised  the  head  of  the  in/ 

Brokenly,  feebly,  and  with /lany  interrugtions  did  tL 
dying  woman  repeat  her  ta/e.  Wonder,  in^edulity,  ^„d 
am^ement  >vere  alterna Jly  depicted  on    the  cointfe. 

„  pjfces  of  the  squire  and/Gipsy,  as  they  listenedZIshe 
ceased  at  last ;  and  tot/lly  exhausted,  turned  iJSiJv 

-.  „^ aside..  /  r-  ■        ^ 

yJI^^"^'   ^^*^^  ^'^  "-^^^  child,     toii  are  the 
heiress,    of    Sunset    L|*1:  !     Wonderful  !    wonderful  •" 

ejaculated  Gipsy,  pal/ ^ith  breathless  inter  Jt.         #  * 
And  toy  grandchild  !"  said  the  squirZgaziqg  upon 
her  like  one  bewiWred.  i    -r,  b  *  ^s  upon 

'  dyin^^  ••''*''*  jCeleste,'iii  a  choki)^  vblce,  «  she  is 

h.H^f  iT*  ^""^^  f .    f  he  mysterious  shadow  of  death 

in^o  r     V°/  T  ^""^  ^^'"'  '°^'""^«S  ^'»  &»"°^^  outline 
into  a  look  of  strange,  deep  awA     The  eyes  had  a  W 

:fidS:::t^r^^'"'-^^^"f^  ^f  ^  something  di. 

All  had  fal4n  on  their  kftefes,  and  Celeste's  chak ins 
sobs  alone  brdke  the  silejpce. 

The  sou nA  seemed    to  disturb.  Miss    Hagar.    She 

^^  r^^^^^^^         r '  ^^'^.^''•oubledr-look,  on  the  ^ef-bowed 
head  of;  the  |roung  girl.  .  li 

'^ni'  ^^  T'  t!*^P  ^P'  '*'^'  Celeste,  but  for  yourself.  Who' 
WiU  care  for  W  when  I  am  dead?" 

'^i^^^^^'^'^''^^^'^'^^  "sheismySwn 
tS^^'^rf  f  i^'^'^  have  is  hers.     She  is  the 
lOngTipst,  tJie  nghtful  heiress  U  Mount  Sunset  Hall  " 

■■  V*--     .^  *%.  V, ;  ,"'• 


^T<; 


rs 


,*-?t" 


i^.ffAw' 


but  siiice  ' 
relate  to 

le  sufferer, 

/ 

/ 
/ 

)  now  ea-/ 
of  the  in^ 
her  lips, 
s  did  tlie 
ulity,/4nd 


I  aire  the 
iderf^i!"  ^1 

ing  upon 

"shens         ] 

of  death    ^ 
:  outline 
d  a  f^r- 
ling  dim 

choking 

^iP.    She 
f-bowcd 

'■-■>'';  ■  *^  ■ ' 

[t  Who 

;    '   ■'     \  ■ 

■iSiSr       1     ■,■'•■         ■ 

ny  dWn 
5  is  the 
lalh'^ 


=  *^-'  '  ' 


'T    SC£N£    OF    all:* 


373* 


A  smile  of  ineffable  peace  sekled  on  that  dying  face 

The  words  died  away.'    She  spoke  no  more     H^r 
lon^  weaor  pilgrimage  was  ove..''a„d  Mrss  H^gar  ^ 

tear"f^2^^^~'*°°''  "f  "^'^  "■«  ^V^"^  dishiiiga 
flesh,  .he  way  wei^mtrai,  ^^^^Z^' 
the  midst  of  death  we  are  iaiife,;  as  Solomon  says! 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 


ijast^sgene.oWa^ll/' 


\- 


\ 


■V^ 


-<^  / 


'ji^^^i 


^«!'„7»-i. 


VVO  »onthshavepassed,awiy.',Itisa  balm/ 
I    gema    day  in  March.    Wr  shone  the  ^n 

brighter,  neTerlool£edSt.,Mari>  fairer;  but 
withm  Sunset  Hall  all  « ji,<,rt  |id  gj;;,T^ 

wi.hh«thed^*:ie::?„rn'™^LTr,^^^^ 

-"Jrc^pres;,  iil;^fc4^P'"^^-- 

•     /'  -  ff  --^'v  ■(■■  ■       '  . 

^^■11  ...I— — ■■-iM->ii.Bi.    ■— iiyp        I      ^_il.!,ifc.,..ii.. -i-i, I      II     .■■iiii.«i-....i-i— ^1^ 

■/„„  ."■       .:  -  ^ 


'•;■'  < 


'■  ii 


""N. 


XZASr,    SCENE ^  OF   Aim 


1 


is  kneeling  Hlce  one  ife  Hrra^erTher  fLce  buried^in  her 

hands  ;  she,  too,  fs  pale  wfth  awe  ani  horror.     To-day, 

Dr.  Wiseman  dies  on  the  scaffold.    They  lieeded  no  evidence 

to  condemn  him.    Fear  seemed  to  l^vc  paralyzed  his 

cowardly  soul,  and  he  confessed  all  j^.^jid  from  the 

moment  h^  heard  his  sentence,  he  s^ded  down  in  a 

stupor  of  ^espair,  frort  which  nothing  could  arouse  hi  Jn. 

The  sound  of  carriage- wheels  coming  up  the  aveniie 

rouseid  them  both,  at  last.    Celeste  sprang  to  her  feet, 

and  .both  stood  breathless,  when  the  door  opened,  and 
Squire  Erliston  entered^ ;  :,>.>;,     ..  ..  ■     ' :    ;. '  '      ■    ':--   '    ' 

**  Well  ?"  came  from  the  eager  lips  of  Gipsy. 
"  All  is  over,"  said  the  squire,  gloomily,  sihking  into 
a  seat.  '^  I  visited  him  in  prison,  but  he  did  not  know 
me— he  only  stared  at  me  with  a  look  of  stupid  imbecility, 
i  could  i^^ouse  him  for  a  long  time,  until,  at  last,  I 
■Hir  name,  Gipsy  ;  then  he  held  oy^  his  arms 
well  as  his  chains  would  allow,  and  qried 
!  of  agony  I  will  never  forgef  :  •  Keep  ier 
off !  she  will  murder  me  r  Seeing  I  could 
do  nothing  for  him,  I  came  away;  and  in  that  state  of 
stupid  insensibility,  he  was  launched  into  eternfty." 

Celeste,  sick  and  faint  with  terror,  sank  into  a  seat 
and  covered  her  face  with  he.r  hands,  and  GipsV  shud- 
dered  slightly.  ;      '    .  •  f 

"  And  so  he  has  perishedUdied  in  his  siiis,"  she  said, 
at  last.  "Once,  I  vowed' never  to  forgive  him  j  but  I 
retract  that  oath.  May  heaven' forgive  him,  as*  I  do! 
And  now,  I  never  want  to  hear  his  name  again."  - 

"  But  Minnette,  where  can  she  be  ?    AYho  will  tell  her  ;"" 
of  tl?is .?"  said  Celeste,  looking  up^  v 

^^^{\X  is  most  strange  what  ean  have  become  of  her," 
said  Hie  squire,,  1' I  have  spared  no  pains  tt>  discover 
her,  but,  so  far,  all  has  been  in 'vain.  Heaved' alone 
knows^^whether  she  is  living  or  dead."  .    .-• 

"It  is  like  her  usual  eccentricity,"  said  Gipsy,  "I  know 


mentio, 
befor 

offi  keep 


1 

i  ■ 

■  ■■  ^":.' 

'''.  ■  ■' 

j 

.  -1- 

> 

■  ■■''■  -'V 

■ '  -  y 

>■■■ 

■ '  *, 

'■   ■■■.  v',; 

>':■.  ' 

\ "  '■  ■• ' 

v;\ 


tf 


tn»n 


.,  "ZASr    SCMNM    OF    ALL* 

not  where  she  is,  yet  I  feel  ajAMlfelkL' 

will  meet  her  ag^in  "      '^l5^^P'''«^«»tf™ent  we 

"GJipsy,  come  here,"  cl 
day,  about  a  fortnight  after,  », 
by  her  room  on  her  way  down  ai^ 
V    "Well,  what  is  it?"  siid  Gipsy, 
mg  with  her, back  to  the  door  ^^- 

boc^';;kehr ''''^'^''^"^^^'  "^-y^  ever  seen  any 


ower,  one 
kdy  passed. 

g,  and^  stand- 


■   *f  t,«,«,  had  such  aVreuy  fact'  "^  '  """*  """"' 

•  I  thlnTt!''  '  "'!^''"  "'■"''''  "y  '"  "semblance  to  vou 
I  think  It  must  be  your  mothers  picture."  ^ 

My    mother's    picture!  "My  dear  Ant.,,  n 

Whatever  put  such  an^bsurd  noti'ont  to  y^orLaar'"'' 

Because  I  am  quite  .ure  it  is.  Its  very  rese'tblance 

•o  you  proves  this:  beside>!    I  f«„„j  ■.■  '^^'"""aoce 

fatherVneck  when  hi  was  dead  ••  °''  y°"' P""' 

have  a  mother  living  in  some  quarter  of  th^  lloL  It 
IS  Ignorant  she  yet  has  a  dajghter  aUve     H  I  '  ^5 
oniy  t,ink  .o  ,  would.travei  thlwoHd  oW.  "finVh™' ^ 

f.o^.fl^r':^^;  s:;;^.r""'"°  "--"".-biac^; 

.   "Oh,  misses  I    Oh, .Misses  Sour  »    Oh  Mi«c«o  r--       .- 
guess  who, 'rived  ■•  s  e  breath.essly  e^cikt^r  ^"7' 

Who?  who?"  exclaimed  both,  eagerly     ■  - 

„idJ^»S    M-*«    Louis-    he's    doln';^   de  parior 

But^yithout  waiting  to  hear  rtf  re,  Gipsy  sp,»„g  ifom  >' 


-f 


■  M- 


I 


■i^'-- 


% 


r 


■  -r  . 

'■-'-■       ^'             .     -'■  :                  ■      ■-■■\ 

■*'. 

— , .' ;.-                 • 

,)■'■ 

% 

'  -            ' 

■";     ,;^';-':'       #"'■ 

•  >\  ..V 

;              ■■■,■■        V                -* 

."'■'■                     1 

■  * 

;»._. 

\ 

.  ^,  _,._..  .. 

' :  ^    ■      ■  \'-    . 

\ 

-        -. 

— \ i^ ■■ 

1 

■ -*   . 

:  / 

^^:  vt:^:.-  ■_.,/■.. 

■       ■■■! 

*■..■■                         -   «         ■■-    ■ 

H    ■ 

* 

\_  .■ 

"4 

■ijf-    ■ 

/    ■  '    ■"    ■'■""'■     '^         .-     "                             ^  ", 

.       ■      /    .,,.        .-■■';■ 

■-'■■„ 

.''P 

« ..         • 

I                 - 

?::■/;•'-/■•:• 

;.:-^»^>.v' 

IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-31) 


^-1 


s: 


***. 


Sdftofe 


n 


39  \NBT  MAM  STUIT 
WBSm,N.Y.  I4SI0 


.^' 


lug  lu  iiie  miuQie  o;  me  poor,  ana  me  living  counter- 
part  of  the  picture  she  had  just  seen,  leaning  on  his  arm  ! 

"Gipsy!   my   sister!"  he  exclaimed,  but  before  he 
^^ould  advance  toward  her,  a  wild,  passionate  cry  broke 
from  thej^ips  o^  the  strange  lady,  as  she  spranc^  forward, 
and  claspft'd  the  astonish(;d  Gipsy  in  her  arms.         '^ 

**  My  daughter !  my  daughter !"  sh^  cried,  covering 
her  face  with  burning  kisses.   .-^-^ '-/-„,____„.-^^„-.-,^ 

Gipsy  grew  deadly  pale;  she  sjtfove  to  speak;  but 
wonder  and  joy  chained  her  ever- ready  tongue. 

"She  is  your  mother,  Gipsy^"  said  Louis,  answering 
her  wild  look.  "  I  leave  her  to  Explain  all  to  you  ;  yoor 
letters  first  revealqd  all  to  nie.  But  Celeste— where  is 
she?"    •:  /.  -         .  .    ^    \ 

"  In  the  drawing-room,  /eading,"  was  the  reply. 

He  hastily  quitted  ^he  room,  and  noiselessly  opened 
the  drawing-room  door ;  Celeste  was  there,  but  not  read- 
ing, ^he  was  lyiqg  pn  a  lounge,  her  face  hidden  in  the 
cushion^,  her  hands  clasped  over  her  eyes  to  repress  her 
falling  tears,  her  heart  yearning  for-  the  living  and  the 
dead.  Her  thoughts  were  of  him  she  believed  far  away ; 
what  were  wealth  and  honors  to  her,  without  him  ?  Her 
tears  fell  fast  and  faster,  while  she -involuntarily  ex- 
claimed :    *♦  Oh,  Louis,  Louis  !  where  are  you  now  ?" 

"  Here,  by  your  side,  Celeste,  never  to  leave  it  more  1" 
he  answered,  fdlding  her  suddenly  in  his  arms. 

"  *Twu  his  own  voice,  she  could  not  err  I 

Throughout  the  breathing  world's  extent      . 
There  was  but  <w«  such  voico  for  her — 
Sokind,  so  soft,  so  eloquent" 

With  a  wild  cry,  she  unclasped  her  hands  from  her 
eyes^pd  looked  up— looked  up  ^  encounter  those  dear,   ^ 
ddiTEeyes,  she  had  never  expected  to  see  more,      v 

Great  was  the  surprise  of  everybody,  at  this  double 
iiriiVal^and  many  were  the  explanations  that  followed. 


»*-^  • 


MJlZ^^         Vu^""^^^  '°  "P^*>°  »»°^he  had  met 
MMamc  Eve  mi,  and  how  he  had  loarncd  her  stcry  ;  and 

hoWj^OYeading  Gipsy's  account  of  the  t^l«40ld  by  Mrs 

Donne  he  had  known  immediately  who  Ls  her  mother 

Ihen,  though  the  task  was  a  patnful  onl  he  was  farced 

,     to  recur  to  the  fate  of  Minnette,  and  set  S.eir  anxiety  Is 

V    rsat'L'"-^  ?''  1^'  ^one  to^Italy  wit^some  irl'ds 
^  M  said  ;  he  aet  her  there,  and^lcarned  frJm  her  she  was 

'^:'  T^he'llG- ''':*."•"''  '""''^'''^  would'findhi 

tninspired  since  his  departur^^which  was  but;  briefly 
touched  upon  in  her  letters./  Mncny 

of  th.H*^*i?'T^*.°"*'"*°^»  ^'^^^  «^«'^°  lining  wives' 
of  the  dead  husband  stood  face  to  fa<*e.    Lizzie,  too  list! 

less  and  languid  to  betray  m^H  emotion  of  anTk  nd 
listened  with  faint  curiosity, 4)ut  tears  sprang  i^nto  the 
^es  of  Madame  Evelinj,  as  she  stooped  to  kiss  thlplle 
brow  of  the  little  lady.    She  refused  to  be  callS  Srs 
Oranmore  ;  saying  that  Lizzie  had  held  the  title  longest* 
and  It  should  still  be  hers.         -  "congest, 

T  «  "  ^?'l°'*^?*'''® ''^  °°*  *»'*'^'"  °'*"<^ 'o  a^ange,''. said 
Louis,  taking  the  hand  of  Celeste ;  "  and  that  il  voir       \ 

^^nttoour^ion.    Wiiypu  bestow^  up.n^e^E'        . 

the  hand  of  your  grandchild  ,  ^\7>       i|  i 

"To  be  sure,  I  will,"  iici  the  squire,  joyfully.    "I  " 

iras  .just  going  to  propo^se,  myself,  that  we  should  end  * 

he  play  witha  wedding.    We've  all  been  in  the  dismall 
long  enough,  bm  tf  marriage  will  set  us  all  right  again. 

l«^«^^r  ^"^'"^^^  '  "^"*  you  have  this  grace,  ^  - 
\^^T^^'    T'  •°'y°"'"  ^""'^  and  master?    He  needs 
somebody  to  look  after  him,  or  he'll  be  running  to  xfrn- 
buctoo,  or  Italy,  or  some  of  those  heathenish  places,  to- 
morrow ^or  next  day-just  as  he  did  beforef  Do  yot 


f 


v> 


i»i;  t»  vuc  smw,  nesiiaiing  lone  01  Her  childhood. 

"  Hooray  I  there's  a^sensible  answer  for  you.  Now  I 
propose  that  the  wedding  takes  place  forthwith.  Where's 
the  good  of  losing  time  ?  'Never  del^y  till  to-morrow 
what  you  can  do  to-day,'  as  Solomon  iays.  What's  your 
opinion,  Rood  folks  ?"  /        .  fc 

"  Minps  decidedly  the  same  as  yours,  sir,"  said  Louis, 
promptly.  :  'v      * 

*^Then  suppose  the  alGfair  come;^  off  to-morrow,"  said 
the  squire,  in  a  business-like  toneii     '         . 

"Oh/l  i!o,  no!"  said  Celeste,  with  such  a  look  of 
alarm,  that  the  others  laughed  outright :  "a  month— two 
months/-"  , 

"  Nbnsensc,"  said  the  squire^  gruffly,  \*  two  months 
indeed— no,  nor  two  weeks,  cither.  Next  Thursday,  at 
the  furthest.  You  can  have  all  your  trumperv  ready  bv 
that  ttme."  ■  f    /  /    / 

♦^  You  wilL  have  to  yield.  Celeste,"  said  Gipsy, 
sf*  Just  see  how  imploringly  Louis  looks  1"^  ^ 

"That's  too  soon,"  JBDeleste,  still  pleading  for  a 
reprieve.     "  I  never  cd^pK  ready— " 

"  Yes,  you  couldj"  d^t  in  Gipsy.    "  I'll  engage  to  have 

everything  prepared);  and,  like  Marshal  Ney,  when  I 

enter  the  field,  the  battle  is  won.     Now,   not  another 

'  word.    Louisl^an't  you  make  her  hold  her  tongue  ?    My 

dear  mother,  ydu  must  try  your  eloquence." 

"You  will  have  to  yield,  my  dear,"  said  Madame, 
smiling;  "there  is  no  use  attempting  to  resist  this  irtf- 
petuoil|s  daughter  of  mine."   \     \ 

_^  "Of  course  there's  not,  said  Gipsy— "everybody  does 
as  I  tell^them.  i^Iow,  Louis,  take  the  future  Mrs.  Oran- 
more  out  of  this.  Aunty  Gower  ahd  I  have  got  to  lay 
our  heads  tog|6ther  (figuratively  speaking)*;  for  on  our 
shoulders,, iZuppose,  must  devolve  all  the  bother  and 
bustle  of  praparation." 


i  > 


week; 


— .  ...  .ret  eiemeni  during  the  rest  of  the 
fashion  Ta  b^in  .h  "l'""?""  ""dering  the  country 

:;  St,.  ^JTi::;':-X7x:^^--  4- 

and  her^mler:     """"'""'««.  accompanied  by  Gipsy 
.„  The  wedding-day  dawned,  brigl/t  and  beautiful    », 

?n  tLlh'"«;f '^'i'""'"-     Ceieste^ished  to^  .Lr ^ikl 
m  the  church  antf-no  one  thought  of  opposing  her  win 
Gipsy  stood  beside  her^  robed  in  while  •  and  «  hi  t 
rivaled  in  pallor  the  dress  she  wore  it'was  tlkin'":? 
her  own  gloomy  bridal,  and  of  hin,  who  hadt^rh^r 
an  eternal  farewellthat  nighff    Mrs.  Gower  was  there 

iene'fi;^?-'"-  ".■«'  ^PP^'  «-"  "spectabre    i     'the 
.*enerable  brown  satin,  that  was  neverlonned  Save  on 

an  occasion    lilte  the  present.     Lizzie  Wa"lh^,„„ 
■supparted  by  Madame  Evelini,  and  looking'  1,-STstes^ 
and  far  more  cheerful  than  she  had  been  for  mSy  a  d!v 
il>ere^s  the  squire,  looking  very  pompouTrnd  doT     ' 
maticai  waning  to  give  the  briSe  away,  and  reDltlnf-  • 
mwydly,  ail  the  proverbs  he  could  reco'^^le«%y'Z"§ 
offenng  up  a   prayer  for  their  happiness.     There  wa«  " 
Lo,u.s  so  tall,  and  «a.%,  and  «ifdsome   lotktnl  The    ' 
very  happiest  individual  in  existence.     And  lastlv  !hep! 
was  our  own    Celeste-our   "Star    of   the    Cle> 
sweeter  and  fairer  than  ever,  with  her  blushing.lt  in"d' 
ZT^Z^''-  ''""«""'«  "-"  fl-tering  wit^LI     ^ 

^7fs:-:s^rtCTi^rurst^ 


A 


8/an< 


A  few  word8/4n^  all  was  over;  and  leaning, o'ofthe 
arm  of  the  proud  and  happy  Louis,  Celeste  received  the 
congratulations  of  her  friends. 

Breakfast  awaited  them  on  their  return  to  the  hall. 
Immediately  after,  they  were  to  start  for  Washington  ; 
but  before  departing,  Celeste,  turning  to  |.ouis,  said  i 

"  Before  I  go,  I  would  visit  the  grave  Jpf  pdoft  i^iss 
Hagar.     Come  with  me."  *"i^-^-  i?' 

It  was  not  far  from  Sunset  Hall.  "%* white. mamt 
tombstone  marked  the  spot,  bearing  tj^nsCriptiosH 

SAcksD    TO    THE   MeMQRY 

or 
..  HAGAR  WISEMAN.  ' 

i  And  underneath  were  the  words  : 

"  Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord." 

-  .,   Tears  fell  fast  from  the  eyes  of  Celeste,  as  she  knelt  / 
by  that  lopely  grave ;  but  they^  wei;j5  not  all  tears  of 
*    sorrow.^ 


"And  this  is  Venice  I  Bless  me  I  ^hat  aqueer-lopk- 
^\^  old  place"!"  exclaimed  Gipsy,  lyii^g  back  ataid  the 
cushions  of  a  gondola.  "How  in  t^e  world  do  they 
manage  to  make  everything^  look/ so  funny?/  This 
gonddla,  or  whatever  they  call  it,  i/quite  a  comfortable 
place  to  go  to  sleep  in.  I'll  bring  one  of  them  home 
to  sail  on  the  bay — I  will,  as  sure  as  shooting.  Maybe 
it  won't  astonish  the  natives,  slightly.  AVell  this  tr  a. 
nice  climate,  and  no  mistake.  I  don't  think  Td  have  any 
objection  to  pitching  my  tent  here,  myself.  What's  this 
the  poet  says — 


x 


"X 


^ 


•OK.  Wnk  what  a  heaven  .he  would  make  Irfthl. 'ere  r 

Thj^h  ".°"""««.  the  „hole  pari,  stood  still  in  awe 
The  church  was  hung  with  black,  a?d  dimly  IhtJtt; 
«'«"P««-  Clouds  of  iucense  filled  th"air\nd.h^ 
theTk?eu4'r'^°''^"""''°°''«''"''e«i^^^^^^^^^^ 

X:::?crKref,re5  rr  -'-' "— '•  "^^ 

Joot^nhTal-'ro'L't  r  nTs  X^t  ^f^ 
form  «f  one  of  the  sisterhood  lay  ^n  sU  \  Th'  Li'*!  f? 
face,  shaded  by  the  long,  black  v^.  wore ^^^^^ 
.hVrrv.'^  P*^"  '  '"?  "'""-"""d'  clasptdl  crS  to 
at  he°  f ';T./  "I"  «-d«herherd.  .YdTnotC 
«lii  i  ~  °''''"S  '«'"'=^  '»P«"  in  their  hand*-« 
8t.ll  and  mouonless,  that  they  ««mbled  .t..„«.      ^° 

,hJ        f"^"'  ^''""'eartsalmostceasedtobeat.as  / 
they^zed.    Thejook  of  deep  calm-of  CWJd-UkT^ 
-on  her  fa«,,  forbade  sorrow,  but  inspired  awe     J^ 
lovely  and  far  more  gentle  than  she  h^ad  eveT^ook^f^   . 

fh.S    ^  '•  "l"  ''"P'  '"'«"''  stillness  was  broken  br 
theSifr,  mournful  wail  of  the  organ  ;  and  lite  a  tiiJ' 
cry.  many  voice,  chanted  forth  the  dir^  •  ^,         ^  "'"'' 


\A 


i... 


% 


!/■ 


bolvel  sarclum  in  faviUa. 
Pie  Jcsu  Dominie^ 
Dona  tis  requiem." 

Not  one  heart  there,  but  echoed  the  burden  of  the  grand 
old  hymn :  ..\  1,  .        »* 

1 "  Lord  of  merqt'^Jesus  blest, 
Grant  thy  lervant  light  and  rest  I"' 

,(  "  Let  U8  goi— this  scene  is  to6  much  for  you,"  said; 
:„|.pui^  as  Celeste,  clung.^ale  and  trembling,  to  his  arm. 
And  together  they  quitted  the  convent. 
I  They  were  followed  by  one,  whp,  leaning  against  a 
pillar,  bad  watched  them  intentl/  all  the  time.  He 
stepped  after  them  into  the  street ;  and  Louis,  suddenly 
looking  up,  beheld  hiin.  ^  : 

"  Archie  t"  he  cried,  in  a  tone  of  mingled  amazement 
and  delight. 

A  stiQed  shriek  broke  from  the  lips  of  Gipsy,  at  the 
name.    Yes,  it  Was  indeed  our  old  friend  Archie— no  • 
longer  the  laughing,  fun-loving  Archie  of  other  4ays,  »^ 
but  looking  pale,  and  thin,  and  almost  stern.  ^  f     ^ 

"  O.dear  Archie  I  how  glad  I  am  to  see  you  again  !" 
exclaimed  Celes|e,.seizing  Sfk  of  his  hands,  while  Lours 
wrung  theother  ;  and  Gips;^  drew  back,  turning  first 
red,  and  th^n  pale,  and  then  red  again.  Madame  Evelini, 
klone,  looked  very  much  puzzled  what  to  make  of  the 
wbdle  affair.  j  < 

"Surely,  you  ^laVe  not  forgotten  your  old  friend, 
Gipsy  ?"  said  Loui^  at  last,  stepping  aside  and  placing 
them  face  to  face. 

A   "  I  am  happy  to  meet  you  again,  Mrs.  Wiseman,"  said 
AVchi^,  bowing  coldly.  1 

"  Wen,  if  you  are;*  said  Lo&is,  looking'  at  him  with 
a  doubtful  expression,  "your  hooks  most  confoundedly 
pelic  your  words.     Let    me  present   youi   to    Madame 
Ivelini,  Mrs.  Wiseman's  mother./' >  >  *- 


J 


%. 


~'    — ''O^tvt, 


tnca  me  astonished  Archie. 


« Whv  VM   /<5      .  "'»'on»sned  Archie. 

opt  hca'd"    iZ  ta?.'/""  '""'  "^^"  '^  -^  yo"  i^avc 
place  aeStMirk'sr^     '''"'"  '^^'^  *^*^«  lately  tal?en 

Mr*  Oranmort "      "  ''"™  ""  '""'°' «"  addressing 

to  .Sf  S'l:'  s^'cf  l!:n'lr  '""'^'  ««-<>'"<^ 
witnessed  had  sadde^d'tet^o  5*  '"«  '^'^ '"«' J»sl 
ney  back  Was  performed  t^^'  "^"^j,  '"'*  ">«  J""'" 
«t  of  .11 :  andA^eaning  teck  51^^k.    "'^.T"'' ^rav- 
vail  over  her  face,  she  n«er  W^    go-do'^  with  her 
»P». »ve When  dir«tly ^ddrL^'^'^:''u'^  '^  "P'"  <«"     - 
were  much^hor^r^hl^nl;:.       '  """^  """"^f  »»"'*« 
But  when  they  went  horae.  to  their  hot^i  .nH      '"  ^ 
thing  was  explained  anri  h-  i.  j  i  "owl,  and  ^ery-  , 

l«e«  forced  i«o  a  iCria'e  .h.''''Kr'' ''°''  ^'P^^  '^'^ 
rible  r«ri6utionth.tTwfL  I  "h  "'■'*'*•  "*"  "•*  '"- 
to  assume  a  different  app  amnce  t?P°""T  "'^^ 
been  of  the  opinion  that"  17;  •    '  ^"'"  had  long      : 

•lone."  and  fimly 'beli"  ed    nT  ^°'"'  '"',  """"  ^  **  - 

*f  becoming  a  huVndTf  one  wift^H"™' 7?'''°' 
proposing  in  due  form  to  G°DSv-wh„    ?.  ~"<^'"''«i,  by 

■ng,  consented  to  make  him  h^app^     '"'''""  »»«>«».•     ^ 


'•  * 


'>  r 


'-! 


k-t 


..4 


X 


— -i 


;.i-^ 


entr^tieil.  ^t'^Tm  jutt  going  to  get  marriccfat  dear  old/ 
St.  Mark's,  and  no  placi  else  ;  and  givie  AMnty  Gower  » 
chance  to  give  her  brown  satin  dress  another  airing— as 
ours  is  likely  td  be  the  last  wedding  at  Sunset  Hf  11  ior 
sometime,  onless  guardy  takes  Jt  into  his  head  to  get 
married.  Now,  you  needn't  coax  ;  I  won't  have^y^u  till 
we  get  home,  that's  flat."  And-to  this  resolution  she  ad- 
hipred,  in  spite  of  all  hiiip<)ssUasions.  \      . 

The  bridal  tour  was,  of  necessity,  much  shortenedTby 
e  desperate  haste  of  Archier-who,  like  the  man  wll^h 
the  cork  leg,  seemed^ unable  to  rest  in  any  place;  and 
tore  like  a  comet  ^through  Europe,  and  breathed  noi 
freeW  until  they  stood  once  more  oti  American  soil. ..  )^ 
Alid  three  weeks  after,  a  wedding  took  place  at  St^ 
Mark'k  that  surpassed  everything  of  the  kind  that  had 
ever  been  heard  of  before.  Good  iVunty  Gtower  was  in 
ecstasies^  and  the  squirer'before  the  party  dispersed, 
lampagne  and  emotion,  arose  to  propose  a 


full  of 
toast. 

"Ladi 
esting  oci 


and  fellbw-citi^ens :  6n  tl^e  present  Inter- 
|sion,  I  rise  to"— here  the  Speaker  took  a 
pinch  of  sniuflf— "  I  rise  to  "—here  a  violent  sneeze  inter- 
rupted  himiand  drywfrom  him  the  involuntary  remark  : 
«*  Lor4 !  wh|it  a  cold  I've  got !— as  I  was  saving,  I  rise  t^' 
propose  thelbealth  and  happiness  of  the  bride  and  bridi 
groom  ;"  (cheers)  "like  the  flag  of  our  native  land,  lonji 
may  they  wake !"  (desperate  cheering).  "Marriage,  likl 
liberty,  is  a  great  institution ;  and  I  would  advise  every 
single  man  present  to  try  it.  If  he  has  herelofore  given 
^theidc^let  him  pluck  up  courage  and\  try  again. 
*Bette^llikte  than  nevdr,'  as  S(^lomoa  says.'*     V 


■/ 


\ 


THBIUfXI. 


\- 


N 


